Playing The Game

Organized ice hockey games are divided into three equal segments called periods. Professional, top-level international, and college games are played for 60 minutes in three 20-minute periods. Two 15-minute intermissions after the first and second periods allow players to rest while the ice is resurfaced. At lower levels, games are shorter, generally 30 or 45 minutes.

Each period begins with a face-off at the blue dot at center ice. During the face-off one player from each team lines up at the dot with the stick blade on the ice. After the referee drops the puck, the two players attempt to gain possession of it. Quick hands and strength are essential qualities for players participating in the face-off.

Once the puck is dropped, it is in play until an official’s whistle stops it, a goal is scored, or time expires. The team on offense tries to move the puck forward and score. The forwards are generally at the head of an offensive rush, while the defenders move up behind them. Meanwhile, the forwards of the defensive team pressure the puck-carriers or position themselves to prevent passes between members of the offensive team. The defenders move back to protect the goalie and net area.

Possession of the puck changes frequently, and sometimes intentionally. In a common offensive tactic known as forechecking, offensive teams knock the puck into an opponent’s end of the rink, then pressure the opponent who retrieves it. This sometimes allows teams to regain possession far down the ice. Possession also changes when the defense intercepts a pass or when defenders bump a player who has the puck, causing him or her to lose control of it.

Play stops after goals are scored, when penalties or other violations are called, after serious injuries occur, and when the puck leaves the playing area. Officials also stop play when the puck is out of their sight for more than one or two seconds. This happens most frequently when a goalie blocks a shot and then covers the puck. The goalie is the only player allowed to stop play in this way.

Play does not stop if the puck touches an official or if a player’s equipment is damaged. Sticks that break must be dropped to the ice (except by goalies), and players must continue on without one until another stick can be retrieved. After play stops, it is almost always resumed by a face-off at the closest face-off dot. Each face-off represents a chance to gain possession of the puck, so the closer a face-off is held to a net, the more important possession becomes.

In most leagues, games tied at the end of regulation play simply end. But sometimes play continues in an overtime period, called sudden death. In these cases, the first team to score in overtime is declared the winner, even if time still remains in the overtime period. Depending on the prevailing rules, some games end in ties if neither team scores during overtime. In games where a winner must be determined—such as a playoff game—there are two main ways to determine the winner. Overtime periods can be played until one team scores a goal, or the teams can have a shoot-out after two overtimes. A shoot-out is when a series of players from each team (usually five) alternate in taking shots on goal. The team that scores the most times wins the game. Many professional minor leagues use shootouts during non-playoff games, when a game remains tied even after a completed overtime period.