NHL outlines playoff overtime rules for 2026
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 2, 2026, 11:30 PM
Last updated Jun 2, 2026
For the 2026 Stanley Cup Final, if teams are tied after regulation, they enter a 20-minute 5-on-5 overtime period. This format continues in subsequent overtime sessions until a goal is scored. This method emphasizes sudden death, where the first goal wins. The current rules differ significantly from regular-season overtimes, which use a 3-on-3 format followed by a shootout. The updated rules aim to enhance playoff drama as teams compete for the championship.
- •Playoffs use 5-on-5 overtime after regulation ends in a tie.
- •Each overtime period lasts 20 minutes, continuing until a goal is scored.
- •Regular-season overtimes differ with 3-on-3 play and shootouts.
- •The sudden death format increases tension in playoff games.
- •These rules were updated for the 2026 playoff season.
- 11:30 PMYahoo Sports — What are the NHL overtime rules for the playoffs in 2026?
"What are the NHL's playoff overtime rules for the 2026 Stanley Cup Final?
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