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NHL Playoffs: Overtime Goes Back to 5-on-5!
19 Apr
Summary
- NHL playoffs revert to 5-on-5 overtime after regular season.
- Sudden death overtime continues until a winner is scored.
- The longest Stanley Cup Final overtime game occurred in 1990.
The National Hockey League's Stanley Cup playoffs are introducing a significant shift in overtime regulations. Moving away from the 3-on-3 format common in the regular season, playoff games will now feature full 5-on-5 action during any overtime periods. This change ensures that every overtime until a winner is decided will be played at maximum strength, barring any penalties.
This return to traditional sudden-death overtime means that games will continue indefinitely if the score remains tied after regulation play. Unlike the regular season, there will be no shootouts to determine a winner. Overtime periods are 20 minutes long and will be repeated until a goal is scored.
Historically, this format has produced some of the most memorable and lengthy contests in NHL history. The longest Stanley Cup Final overtime game occurred in 1990, when the Edmonton Oilers defeated the Boston Bruins in triple overtime. The 2025 Stanley Cup Final saw three of its first four games go to overtime, including one double-overtime affair, underscoring the potential for extended playoff battles.
