About ice hockey

One game consists of three periods of twenty minutes each, the clockrunning only when the puck is in play. In international play, the teamschange ends for the second period, again for the third period, andagain after ten minutes of the third period. In many North Americanleagues, including the NHL, the last change is omitted. Recreationalleagues and children leagues often play shorter games,generally with three shorter periods of play.

Variousprocedures are used if a game is tied. In tournament play, as well asin the NHL playoffs, North Americans favour sudden death overtime, inwhich the teams continue to play 20 minute periods until a goal isscored. Up until the 1999-00 season regular season NHL games weresettled with a single 5 minute sudden death period with 5 players (plusa goalie) per side, with the winner awarded 2 points in the standingsand the loser 0 points. In the event of a tie, each team was awarded 1point. From 1999-00 until 2005-06 the National Hockey League decidedties by playing a single five-minute sudden death overtime period witheach team having 4 players (plus a goalie) per side to the game. In the event of a tie, each teamwould still receive 1 point in the standings but in the event of avictory the winning team would be awarded 2 points in the standings andthe losing team 1 point. The only exception to this rule is if a teamopts to pull their goalie in exchange for an extra skater duringovertime and is subsequently scored upon , - then the losing team receives no points for theovertime loss. International play and several North Americanprofessional leagues, including the NHL (in the regular season), nowuse an overtime period followed by a penalty shootout.

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