The first organised game of indoor hockey took place in Montreal in 1875.
That game – which took place at Victoria Skating Rink and featured players from McGill University – looked very different compared to the hockey that is played today.
One drastic difference is that hockey games used to be split into two halves, now the game is divided into three periods.
Find out how long a hockey game lasts and more below.
How Long Is a Hockey Game in the NHL?
A hockey game in the NHL lasts 60 minutes.
The game is split into three 20-minute periods. There is no running clock, meaning that the time stops with every whistle.
Hockey is a popular live-betting sport because sportsbooks will update NHL odds of a given game during each stoppage.
If the game is tied after three periods, the two teams play a five-minute overtime period of 3-on-3 hockey until a goal is scored. If the game remains tied after overtime, it is decided in a shootout.
The overtime rules change for the playoffs. While postseason games still consist of three 20-minute periods, the overtime periods last 20 minutes and are played at 5-on-5. The game continues until a goal is scored.
Because hockey games can go to overtime, sportsbooks offer hockey odds for the game to be tied after regulation.
Hockey games also feature two intermissions between the three periods. Those intermissions last 18 minutes for an NHL game.
How Long Is a Hockey Game on TV?
A hockey game on TV usually lasts about two-and-a-half hours. The length of the broadcast can vary based on the number of stoppages, goals, and other factors, like injury breaks.
How Long Is an OHL Hockey Game?
An OHL hockey game lasts 60 minutes. Like the NHL, each OHL contest is divided into three 20-minute periods. The only difference is that the 3-on-3 overtime period in the OHL lasts 10 minutes.
How Long Is a Junior Hockey Game?
Junior hockey games last 60 minutes and are divided into three 20-minute periods.
For the most part, junior hockey leagues follow very similar rules to the NHL with some differences in overtime and the length of the intermission.
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