With the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs in full swing, some thrilling additional time motion is in retailer — although it seems to be slightly totally different than it does within the common season. Very similar to the Energizer Bunny, NHL playoff additional time simply retains going and going, no less than till somebody scores.
Some followers is perhaps tuning in for his or her first actual style of playoff hockey and questioning precisely the place the three-on-three additional time and shootouts went. To be honest, these have been in place all through the 82-game common season, and so they do present an excellent little bit of drama when the sport goes past regulation.
Nonetheless, as enjoyable as a one-on-one showdown between shooter and goalie is, it is not essentially the easiest way to determine a Stanley Cup champion. Nobody desires to pour out blood, sweat and perhaps a couple of tears just for a glorified abilities competitors to find out their destiny.
The identical might be mentioned for the 5 minutes of three-on-three additional time. That has been wildly standard because it was first applied the 2015-16 season, however it’s a little too gimmicky for postseason play.
Due to the mini-game nature of the regular-season overtimes, the NHL continues to stay with a tried and true technique of figuring out winners when playoff video games transcend their often allotted 60 minutes.
NHL playoff additional time defined
The excellent news right here is that there is not a lot to be defined. Groups simply preserve enjoying the sport as regular – 5 skaters and a goalie per facet – whereas stacking one 20-minute interval on prime of one other. The one distinction from regulation is that it is sudden loss of life. The following purpose ends the sport.
This explicit additional time format does imply that some video games can flip into marathons. It isn’t unusual for playoff video games to succeed in two or three additional time intervals earlier than ending. Throughout additional time intermissions, gamers eat sufficient orange slices and Gatorade to rival a youth soccer workforce on a Saturday morning.
On a handful of events all through NHL historical past, video games have prolonged to 4, 5, or six additional time intervals.
Longest playoff video games in NHL historical past
Has the Stanley Cup ever been gained on an OT purpose?
Sure, the best trophy in sports activities has been handed out following an additional time purpose on 17 totally different events all through NHL historical past. The primary time that occurred was in 1933, when Invoice Cook dinner of the New York Rangers scored on the Toronto Maple Leafs to win the Stanley Cup for his workforce.
The newest instance got here a decade in the past when Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alec Martinez beat Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to win the 2014 Stanley Cup Closing in 5 video games.
Hopefully, the 2024 Stanley Cup Closing can present that very same stage of drama on the 10-year anniversary of Martinez’ fateful shot.
