The NHL Stanley Cup playoffs are returning on Saturday and with that comes a major change in the overtime format.

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

Witness last season's 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.

Here's a primer on playoff hockey overtime:

NHL playoff overtime rules

If the score is tied after three periods, the teams go to the dressing room 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 NHL Situation Room reviews all goals to make sure they are legally scored. In the previously mentioned Panthers-Hurricanes game, a Ryan Lomberg goal at 2:35 of the first overtime was overturned because of goaltender interference by Colin White on Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen.

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.

Which players in the 2024 postseason have the most playoff overtime goals?

  • 5 - Corey Perry, Edmonton Oilers
  • 4 - Carter Verhaeghe, Panthers; Joe Pavelski, Dallas Stars
  • 3 - Matthew Tkachuk, Panthers; Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins; Brayden Point, Tampa Bay Lightning; Jordan Staal, Hurricanes; John Tavares, Toronto Maple Leafs

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