NHL overtime is among the most exciting, nail-biting moments in sports you’ll ever see, and it’s due to aggressive NHL overtime rules. A regular-season tie opens the ice for three-on-three sudden death and, if necessary, a shootout. A playoff tie, by contrast, leads to full 20-minute periods of five-on-five hockey until someone scores.
When the OT puck drops in hockey, you’ll be on the edge of your seat. And these formats do more than decide the winner; they change how moneyline, puck line, total, and player props are settled. This NHL overtime guide covers the rules and their practical effects before you dive into Bovada NHL odds.
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How Do Overtime and Shootout Rules Work in the NHL?
If a regular-season NHL game remains tied after 60 minutes, the teams play a five-minute sudden-death overtime period. Each team normally uses three skaters and one goaltender. The first goal ends the game immediately.
A 3-on-3 overtime format provides more fast-paced, open ice play than standard five-on-five. Odd-player rushes, breakaway goals, and rapid momentum changes are the norm here. Coaches also manage possessions carefully because a missed shot or turnover can instantly create counterattack opportunities.
Penalties work differently than regulation. The penalized team doesn’t lose a man; their opponent gains one. So, you’re left with a wild 4 vs. 3 dynamic until the penalty is over.
If nobody scores during the five-minute OT, the game advances to a shootout. Each team initially names three shooters. The teams alternate shot attempts, and the home team chooses which team shoots first. A player can’t take a second shot until every eligible player on his team has taken one, and the shootout is still tied up.
If the score is still tied after three rounds, the shootout continues, but this time the teams go shot for shot.
After a shootout, one goal is added to the winning team’s score, regardless of how many shootout attempts were scored. Shootout goals are not credited to individual players as official goals or points, and they do not affect shooting percentage. Shootout stops are recorded separately and do not count toward a goaltender’s official saves or save percentage. Only regulation and overtime stats are counted normally. That distinction is crucial when settling scores, points, and goaltender props.
The winning team receives two points for the standings. The losing team in overtime or the shootout receives one point, not ideal but a better result than zero points for a standard loss.
What Is the Difference Between NHL Regular Season and Playoff Overtime?
Overtime in the regular season lasts up to five minutes at three-on-three and can lead to a shootout. NHL playoff overtime uses 20-minute, sudden-death periods at five-on-five and never uses a shootout.
If a playoff overtime period ends without a goal, the teams take an intermission, and overtime is treated as another complete period until someone scores. This continues for as many periods as necessary. There were a record six overtimes in 1936; the match had two hours and 56 minutes of ice time.
Having different formats in the regular season and playoffs makes a big difference. Three-on-three regular-season overtime deliberately creates space and frequent high-scoring chances. Five-on-five playoff overtime more closely resembles regulation hockey.
But how do these rules apply to NHL betting? See more below.
Can I Bet on a Game to Go to Overtime in Hockey?
Yes. Sportsbooks can offer numerous props, including whether an NHL game will go to overtime, but availability can vary.
You can use team scoring patterns and underlying metrics to help with these kinds of predictions. For example, bettors may compare recent scoring, goaltending, and five-on-five shot-attempt share using metrics like the Corsi For percentage. Closely matched, lower-scoring teams may be more likely to be tied after 60 minutes, but no statistic removes the uncertainty of a single game.
For more info on how these stats can help with NHL overtime props, check out the NHL betting guide for more detail.
How Do Shootouts Affect NHL Overtime Bets?
Shootout attempts do not count as individual goals or saves in standard game statistics. Therefore, a player who scores the winning shootout goal won’t have it applied to their overall stats. Only stats during regulation and actual overtime count toward those individual statistics.
For moneylines, the shootout winner wins the game and the bet. For the puck lines and totals, the shootout winner receives one additional team goal in the official final score.
What Are the NHL Overtime Rules?
A tied regular-season game in overtime moves to five minutes of three-on-three sudden-death hockey. If it stays tied, there are three initial shootout rounds followed by additional sudden-death shootouts to determine the winner. In the playoffs, a tied game moves to repeated 20-minute periods of five-on-five sudden death hockey until someone scores – no shootout.
Standard NHL bets include overtime and shootouts unless otherwise stated. Shootout attempts don’t count toward individual player or goaltender stats. Use our NHL betting guide for the type of odds available, then dive into the NHL betting stats guide for stats to inform your wagers. Then, when you’re ready, you can apply what you’ve learned with Bovada’s NHL odds.
NHL Overtime Rules: Frequently Asked Questions
How do overtime and shootout rules work in the NHL?
A tied regular-season game moves to five minutes of three-on-three, sudden death hockey. If neither team scores, a three-round shootout begins and continues one round at a time if still tied. Playoff games use repeated 20-minute, five-on-five overtime periods and no shootout.
What is the difference between NHL regular season and playoff overtime?
Regular-season overtime is five minutes at three-on-three, followed by a shootout if required. Playoff overtime consists of full 20-minute periods at five-on-five until a goal ends the game.
What is the difference between betting NHL overtime and betting the full game?
Most standard full-game bets include overtime and the shootout. Overtime produces a one-goal margin, which strongly favors +1.5 over -1.5 for puck line settlement.
Can I bet on a game to go to overtime in hockey?
Yes. Bovada may offer a yes-or-no prop on whether regulation ends tied and overtime begins.
How do shootouts affect NHL overtime bets?
The shootout winner wins on the moneyline, and the official final margin is one goal for puck line and total bets. Shootout attempts do not count toward individual player props.
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