NHL playoff overtime rules: Postseason hockey bracket changes OT format

The NHL‘s Stanley Cup playoffs are underway, bringing a major change in the overtime format.

No more three-on-three play, no more shootouts after five minutes of scoreless play, as happens during regular-season overtime. There is sudden death, but it could last a very long time.

Witness the 2023 playoffs. The Florida Panthers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference final in a game that lasted nearly a full four overtime periods. It came close to going to a fifth overtime, but Florida’s Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner with 12.7 seconds left in the period. It was the sixth-longest playoff game in NHL history.

So far in the 2025 NHL playoffs, 18 games — including Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final — have gone to overtime. There have been three double-overtime games.

Here’s a primer on playoff hockey overtime:

How does OT work in NHL playoffs

If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing rooms for 15 minutes while the ice is resurfaced. Overtime periods last 20 minutes or until someone scores. It’s five-on-five play (barring penalties). If no one scores in the first overtime, the process repeats and continues until someone scores. The teams change sides for each overtime period. The first overtime is the long change to get back to the bench.

The NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored. In last year’s Stars-Avalanche series, the league upheld a no-goal call on an apparent score by Dallas’ Mason Marchment because referees ruled Matt Duchene had interfered with then-Colorado goalie Alexandar Georgiev. Duchene later scored the winning goal.

Longest NHL playoff games

• 1 – Six overtimes (116 minutes, 30 seconds of overtime) in the 1936 semifinals, March 24, 1935. Detroit 1, Montreal Maroons 0. Mud Bruneteau scored the winner.
• 2 – Six overtimes (104 minutes, 46 seconds of overtime) in the 1933 semifinals. April 3, 1933. Toronto 1, Boston 0. Ken Doraty scored the winner.
• 3 – Five overtimes (92 minutes, 1 second of overtime) in the 2000 conference semifinals. Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1. Keith Primeau scored the winner.
• 4. Five overtimes (90 minutes, 27 seconds of overtime) in the 2020 first round. Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2. Brayden Point scored the winner.
• 5 – Five overtimes (80 minutes, 48 seconds of overtime) in the 2003 conference semifinals. Anaheim 4, Dallas 3. Petr Sykora scored the winner.
• 6 – Four overtimes (79 minutes, 47 seconds of overtime) in the 2023 conference finals. Florida 3, Carolina 2. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner.

Longest Stanley Cup Final games

Eight Stanley Cup Final games have gone to the third overtime. The Edmonton Oilers were part of the longest game when Petr Klima scored at 15:13 of the third overtime for a 3-2 win against the Boston Bruins in the 1990 Final.

2025 NHL playoff overtime goals

June 4: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl scored at 19:29 of the first overtime for a 4-3 Oilers win against the Panthers.

May 17: Dallas’ Thomas Harley scored at 1:33 of the first overtime for a 2-1 Stars win against the Jets.

May 14: Edmonton’s Kasperi Kapanen scored at 7:19 of the first overtime for a 1-0 Oilers win against the Golden Knights.

May 9: Florida’s Brad Marchand scored at 15:27 of the first overtime for a 5-4 Panthers win against the Maple Leafs.

May 8: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl scored at 15:20 of the first overtime for a 5-4 Oilers win against the Golden Knights.

May 6: Carolina’s Jaccob Slavin scored at 3:06 of the first overtime for a 2-1 Hurricanes win against the Capitals.

May 4: Winnipeg’s Adam Lowry scored at 16:10 of the second overtime for a 4-3 Jets win against the Blues.

April 29: Vegas’ Brett Howden scored at 15:55 of the first overtime for a 3-2 Golden Knights win against the Wild.

April 29: Carolina’s Sebastian Aho scored at 15:43 of the second overtime for a 5-4 Hurricanes win against the Devils.

April 27: Edmonton’s Leon Draisaitl scored at 18:18 of the first overtime for a 4-3 Oilers win against the Kings.

April 26: Vegas’ Ivan Barbashev scored at 17:26 of the first overtime for a 4-3 Golden Knights win against the Wild.

April 26: Ottawa’s Jake Sanderson scored at 17:42 of the first overtime for a 4-3 Senators win against the Maple Leafs.

April 25: New Jersey’s Simon Nemec scored at 2:36 of the second overtime for a 3-2 Devils win against the Hurricanes.

April 24: Toronto’s Simon Benoit scored at 1:19 of the first overtime for a 3-2 Maple Leafs win against the Senators.

April 23: Dallas’ Tyler Seguin scored at 5:26 of the first overtime for a 2-1 Stars win against the Avalanche.

April 22: Toronto’s Max Domi scored at 16:51 of the first overtime for a 3-2 Maple Leafs win against the Senators.

April 21: Dallas’ Colin Blackwell scored at 17:46 of the first overtime for a 4-3 Stars win against the Avalanche.

April 21: Washington’s Alex Ovechkin scored at 2:26 of the first overtime for a 3-2 Capitals win against the Canadiens.

Which players in 2025 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?

• 5 – Corey Perry, Oilers; Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers
• 4 – Brad Marchand, Panthers
• 3 – Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers; Brayden Point, Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; John Tavares, Maple Leafs; Anze Kopitar, Kings; Matt Duchene, Stars

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