2024 NHL playoff overtime rules explained
NHL playoff games can keep going and going
www.cbssports.comI don’t have live tool access right now to pull the very latest articles, but I can summarize the current understanding of Stanley Cup overtime rules and point you to where you’d find the freshest updates.
Direct answer
- In the Stanley Cup Playoffs, overtime is decided by a goal in a 20-minute period played 5-on-5 until someone scores; if no goal is scored in that first overtime, a new 20-minute 5-on-5 period begins, continuing until a goal ends the game. This is different from the regular season three-on-three format, and it continues for as many periods as needed until a goal is scored.
Key details you might care about
- Postseason overtime is straight-to-goal, with each 20-minute session functioning as a separate extension of play. There is no shootout in the playoffs; the game ends as soon as a goal is scored in any overtime period.
- If you’re tracking trends, recent years have seen very long playoff OTs in some series, underscoring the intensity and the “sudden death” nature of playoff overtime.
- Calendar context: the 2025 playoffs featured overtime-heavy action in several series, highlighting the durability of the playoff overtime format and occasional record risks around total OT games in a final.[3][5]
Where to find the latest specifics
- NHL official rulebook and playoff overtime summaries on nhl.com
- Reputable sports outlets’ recaps of the most recent Stanley Cup Finals or conference finals (e.g., ESPN, Sportsnet, The Athletic) for any rule tweaks or clarifications announced for a given season
- If you want, I can search for the very latest articles and provide a concise update with citations.
Would you like me to fetch the most recent articles and summarize any rule changes or notable overtime records from the current season? I can include precise citations after each point.