How long is a standard NHL period?

A standard NHL period lasts 20 minutes of playing time. An NHL game has three regulation periods, creating 60 minutes of scheduled game time before any overtime is added.

The clock runs only while the puck is in play, so stoppages for goals, penalties, offsides, icing, injuries, and other interruptions do not count against the period. This is why a 20-minute period usually takes substantially longer than 20 minutes in real time.

Teams change ends after each period, and intermissions separate the three periods. The breaks allow players to rest, coaches to make adjustments, and arena crews to maintain the ice. Regulation is complete after the third period, regardless of how long stoppages made the overall game last.

Overtime is a separate tiebreaking phase, not part of the standard period length. In the NHL regular season, a tied game receives a five-minute sudden-death overtime period followed by a shootout if necessary. NHL playoff games use additional 20-minute sudden-death periods until a team scores.