Overtime Overtime , in ice hockey , is a method of determining the winner and loser of ice hockey matches should a game be tied after regulation . Two main methods include the overtime period ( commonly referred to as overtime ) , and the shootout . Overtime periods . Overtime periods are extra period s beyond the third regulation period during a game , where normal hockey rules apply . Although in the past , full - length overtime periods were played , overtimes today are " sudden death " , meaning that the game ends immediately when a player scores a goal . For the 1983 - 84 season , the NHL introduced a regular season overtime period of five minutes , compared to the twenty minutes of regulation periods . If the five minute overtime period ended with no scoring , the game was a tie . Note : The World Hockey Association had used a 10 - minute regular season overtime period , as had the NHL prior to World War II . In 1998 , the American Hockey League introduced a rule where teams will play the five minute overtime period with four skaters and a goaltender , rather than at full strength ( five skaters ) , except in two - man advantage situations . In a two - man advantage situation , the team with the advantage will play with five players . The rule was popular and adopted by the NHL and ECHL the next season . Should the overtime period end with neither side scoring , the teams then take part in a " shootout " , which goes to sudden death if tied after the third or fifth round , depending on the league . Mats Sundin holds the record for most regular season overtime goals with 15 . In the Stanley Cup playoff s , overtime periods are identical to regulation periods , except that teams continue to play overtime periods until a goal is scored , as a winner and a loser must be determined . This can result in games having multiple overtime periods - a recent game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Dallas Stars in the 2006 - 2007 playoffs had four overtime periods before Vancouver scored . Joe Sakic has the record for most career playoff overtime goals with seven . Interestingly , three of the game ' s legendary players , Mark Messier ( 109 playoff games ) , Mario Lemieux ( 77 games ) , and Gordie Howe ( 68 games ) never scored a playoff overtime goal . Overtime periods are played without commercial breaks . Shootout . Most lower minor leagues ( ECHL , Central , UHL ) have featured a shootout where , at the end of regulation , a shootout similar to the international tournament format is used . However , in 2000 , the ECHL adopted the AHL ' s four - on - four overtime before the shootout . For the 2004 - 05 AHL season , the AHL followed the ECHL ' s lead and adopted a five - player shootout . The standard five - man shootout is used after four - on - four overtime for all minor leagues in North America . Following the lead of minor leagues , as of the 2005 - 06 season , the NHL ends exhibition and regular season games tied after the five minute overtime period by a shootout . Three skaters per team take shots on the opposing goalies , as opposed to the five in international and minor - league competition . The team with the most goals during their three shots is declared the winner . However , if the same number of goals are scored by both teams during the shootout , a sudden death shootout is begun , as in international competition . The teams alternate taking penalty shots , until one team scores and the other does not , thus producing a winner . All players ( except goalies ) on a team ' s roster must shoot before any player can shoot twice . The shootout is not used in the playoffs for any North American minor league . Instead , 20 minute overtime periods are used until a single goal is scored . In the National Hockey League All - Star Skills Competition , the competition ends in a penalty shootout known as the " Breakaway Relay " . Strategy . Strategy is considered to be very important during penalty shots and overtime shootouts for both the shooter and the goalie . Both shooters and goalies commonly consult their teammates and coaches for advice on the opposing player ' s style of play . Shooters often consider the goalie ' s strengths and weaknesses ( such as a fast glove or stick save ) , preferred goaltending style ( such as butterfly or stand - up ) and method of challenging the shooter . Goaltenders often consider the shooter ' s shot preference , expected angle of attack , a patented move a shooter commonly uses and even handedness of the shooter . Most shooters attempt to out - deke the goalie in order to create a better scoring chance . Minnesota Wild forward Mikko Koivu and Tampa Bay Lightning forward Martin St . Louis are examples of players who commonly use this strategy . However , it is not uncommon for a shooter to simply shoot for an opening without deking . This is commonly referred to as sniping . This is most commonly performed when a goalie challenges a shooter by giving them an open hole ( by keeping a glove , pad or stick out of position or being out of sound goaltending position all - together to tempt the shooter to aim for the given opening ) . Vancouver Canuck forward Markus Naslund and former NHL forward Brett Hull are commonly referred to as snipers . Very rarely a shooter may take a slapshot or wrist shot from the point or top of the slot . This is almost exclusively performed when a shooter either has a high level of confidence in their shot or they attempt to catch the goalie by surprise . Minnesota Wild forward Brian Rolston and Anaheim Mighty Ducks defenseman Chris Pronger have both used this strategy with success . In fact , Pronger succeeded in using this strategy in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals on a penalty shot against Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Cam Ward . Selected playoff overtime contests . Longest NHL overtime games . This is a list of the longest National Hockey League ( NHL ) overtime games . Notable minor league overtimes . AHL . Five AHL games have run into a fourth overtime period . CIS - OUA Men . York Lions and Lakehead Thunderwolves went to a fourth overtime ( 50 : 47 minutes of Overtime ) on Februray 15 , 2007 in Thunder Bay , Ontario . to decide a winner in OUA men ’ s playoff hockey action . Lakehead won the game at the 13 - second mark of the fourth overtime period when Michael Wehrstedt beat Lions goaltender Kevin Druce with the winner in a 3 - 2 marathon . Both goaltenders shone for their teams , as Druce made a remarkable 82 saves , while Chris Whitley made 54 for Lakehead . ECHL . A May 5 , 2000 game between the Louisiana IceGators and Greenville ( SC ) Grrrowl lasted 61 : 24 of overtime , with the Grrrowl winning , 3 - 2 .