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How does NHL playoff overtime differ from regular-season overtime?
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ice hockey
Goalie Marc-André Fleury of the Vegas Golden Knights blocking a shot by Jakub Vrána of the Washington Capitals in game five of the 2018 Stanley Cup finals. The Capitals won the game and the series.
In the NHL, overtime procedures differ significantly between the regular season and the playoffs to ensure a definitive outcome.
- Regular Season: Teams play a five-minute sudden-death overtime period. If the game remains tied after this period, it proceeds to a shoot-out to determine a winner.1
- Playoffs: The shoot-out is eliminated. Instead, teams play 20-minute sudden-death overtime periods until a goal is scored and a winner is declared.1
This structure ensures that postseason games are decided through continuous play rather than the skills competition used during the regular season.1