Overtime (ice hockey)
|
|
Overtime in ice hockey is a method of determining the winner and loser of ice hockey matches should a game be tied after regulation. Two main methods include the overtime period (commonly referred to as overtime), and the shootout.
| Contents |
Overtime Periods
Overtime periods are extra periods beyond the third regulation period during a game, where normal hockey rules apply. Although in the past, full-length overtime periods were played, overtimes today are sudden-death, meaning that the game ends immediately when a player scores a goal.
In the National Hockey League regular season, overtimes are five minutes in length, compared to the twenty minutes of regulation periods. In overtime, players play four-on-four hockey. Should overtime end without either side scoring, the game is declared a tie.
In the Stanley Cup playoffs, overtime periods are identical to regulation periods, except that teams continue to play overtime periods until a goal is scored, as a winner and a loser must be determined. Maurice Richard and Joe Sakic share the record for most career playoff overtime goals with six. Interestingly, three of the game's legendary players, Mark Messier (109 playoff games), Mario Lemieux (77 games), and Gordie Howe (68 games) never scored a playoff overtime goal.
In other leagues, and in international competitions, a failure to reach a decision in a single overtime may lead to a shootout. Some leagues may eschew overtime periods altogether and end games in shootout should teams be tied at the end of regulation.
Important Stanley Cup Playoff Overtime Contests
- March 24, 1936 - Detroit's Mud Bruneteau ends the longest Stanley Cup playoff game ever, scoring his team and the game's only goal in a 1-0 victory over the Montreal Maroons. The goal came 16:30 into the eighth period for a total of 116:30 total overtime. The game was a mere 3:30 short of being the equivalent of playing back-to-back-to-back games.
- April 23, 1950 - Pete Babando scores at 28:31 of overtime to give the Detroit Red Wings a 4-3 win in the seventh game of the Stanley Cup Finals.
- May 10, 1970 - One of the most indelible moments in sports history is the sight of Bobby Orr's "in flight" goal that gave the Boston Bruins a 4-3 win and a four game sweep of the St. Louis Blues in the Stanley Cup Finals.
- April 10, 1982 - Rookie Daryl Evans gives the Los Angeles Kings a 6-5 win over the Edmonton Oilers at 2:35 of overtime. The Kings trailed the Oilers 5-0 after the second period of Game 3 of the Smythe Division Semifinals.
- May 18, 1986 - A Brian Skrudland goal nine seconds into overtime ends the shortest overtime in NHL history. The victory gave the Montreal Canadiens a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.
- April 30, 1994 - Pavel Bure scores 2:20 into the second overtime of the seventh game of the opening round of Vancouver's playoff series with Calgary. The win gave the Vancouver Canucks three consecutive overtime wins over the favored Calgary Flames, who squandered a 3-1 series lead.
- May 27, 1994 - Stephane Matteau ends the Eastern Conference Finals with a memorable wraparound goal on New Jersey's rookie goaltender Martin Brodeur. It was Matteau's second multiple overtime goal of the series and propelled the New York Rangers to their first Finals appearnace in fifteen years.
- June 10, 1996 - Uwe Krupp became the 12th player in NHL history to end the Stanley Cup Finals with an overtime tally giving the Colorado Avalanche a 1-0 win and a sweep of the Florida Panthers.
Shootout
In a shootout (or more formally, the penalty shootout), five skaters from a team take penalty shots against an opposing goaltender, with teams alternating shots. The team with the most goals wins the hockey game, and should teams remain tied, more skaters take shots, although both teams must make an equal number of shots before a decision is made.
In the National Hockey League All-Star Skills Competition, the competition ends in a penalty shootout known as the Breakaway Relay.
References
The National Hockey League Official Guide and Record Book
Diamond, Dan. (1992) The Official National Hockey League Stanley Cup Centennial Book