Intermissions are a break from the action of the game and a chance to catch your breath. The break from game action happens about every two periods of hockey, and the intermission itself only lasts for a few minutes at most.
In the United States, the intermission is divided into two components. The first, called “cool down,” is a three-minute break between the two periods of the game. Then we have the first intermission which is about five minutes long.
What is the Purpose of an Intermission During an NHL Game?
There are three primary reasons for the intermission break during a National Hockey League match. First, the Zamboni comes out to clean up the ice rink from the previous period. Cleaning up the ice is a combination of washing, shaving, and then leaving a layer of water behind to freeze. Second, any play stoppage (goal, penalty, or injury) is given a five minute intermission to allow for medical attention if needed. Third, a five minute intermission is given to let the teams break up the ice and let the Zamboni reset.
It is very important that the players recover from the activity at the break. They need to be able to be fresh for the second half of the game. If the players are not able to recover quickly, then it can lead to more injuries and the potential for a loss.
A third reason is because it allows fans to get food and drinks during the game. Fans want to see the action as the players are in the middle of it, so it is important to give them a chance to use the restroom and eat or drink.
How Many Intermissions are During a Regular Ice Hockey Game?
How Long are the Intermissions in NHL Hockey?
After the breaks have ended, you have a face off to begin the next quarter. And, if the game is on a Sunday, you’ll have the intermission after half.
The game starts as many as eight, nine, or ten times a game. So far this year, the Chicago Blackhawks and Nashville Predators have both played the game more than ten times. The most frequent is the Edmonton Oilers and Winnipeg Jets playing nineteen times this season. The second most is the Dallas Stars and New Jersey Devils playing eleven times.
How Long are Intermissions During the Playoffs?
The playoffs are the same length of time as the regular season.
What Happens if the Game Goes into an Overtime Period?
The three-minute overtime period is optional if the team cannot score after regulation. If there is no score, it goes into a five-minute sudden-death overtime period. If the team is winning a sudden-death overtime, it starts with the goalie. The only restriction is that, during a sudden-death overtime period, the player can change only one of their five shots.
What Happens if the Game Goes into an Overtime Period in the NHL Playoffs?
If a game is tied after three periods, a new overtime period of twenty minutes occurs and keeps recurring until one team scores. Due to the extra time being on top of the period, you can expect another fifteen minute-intermission or so while the Zamboni thoroughly cleans the ice. The fifteen minutes is a way to add additional commercial breaks before the action too.
The 20 minute time limit is the same for Stanley Cup Playoff games.
Do Hockey Games Have Timeouts?
What about TV Timeouts?
Advertising can be a money maker for a company. It is important for an advertiser to be able to reach a huge audience, so sometimes they put ads on sporting events, like a hockey game. Since a hockey game might be interrupted for a few seconds when the puck goes in the net, there will be a TV timeout.
How Long are Hockey Games?
The official game clock is not the same as the normal game clock. Instead, there are 20-minute periods of the official game clock for each team. Each period starts when the puck is dropped and stops when the puck is either shot or scored or at the end of the 20-minute period. The 20-minute clock is not reset between periods so it can be used multiple times within a game.
This is a hockey game and it lasts for a little over an hour.
What is the Longest NHL Playoff Game?
The longest NHL game ever played with over 2 OT periods and a 3rd extra period took place in the 2005 Stanley Cup Playoffs which ended with a 2OT win for the Calgary Flames against the Detroit Red Wings. It took 169 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the contest.
AHL and College Hockey Games
Minor leagues (AHL, ECHL) and college hockey games (NCAA) follow the same structure as an NHL game. That means that there are three 20-minute periods of an official game clock with two intermissions in between them. The two intermissions result in the Zamboni coming out to clean the ice, just like you will see at the NHL level.
Conclusion: How Long is a Hockey Intermission
In summary, hockey is a great game of strategy, where one team will try to win while the other will defend a lead. All hockey fans get a break from the game and can stretch their legs by standing up and walking around. Not only that, but they can also buy more drinks and food. And some fans even enjoy watching the Zamboni clear the ice of any remaining hockey pucks.