How many periods are in a game of hockey?

The game of hockey is a beautiful contest played over the course of 60 minutes. So how are those minutes evenly distributed?

Vegas Golden Knights v Washington Capitals
Vegas Golden Knights v Washington Capitals | Scott Taetsch/GettyImages

The game of hockey is a fun adventure. You watch 60 minutes of fast-paced action, hoping your team wins. Whether you're watching Adin Hill of the Vegas Golden Knights stop countless shots or Connor McDavid create breathtaking goals, it's unrivaled as a sport. You don't have to worry about long television timeouts like you would in basketball or the slow pace of baseball.

That's what makes the sport appealing, for the heavy hits and ridiculous dekes, dangles, and handles make it much better. You can pull off a "Michigan" or make an acrobatic save to keep your team ahead. No other sport offers this much excitement in 60 minutes of game time. Better hurry before there's only one beer left!

But there's some mystery behind how these 60 minutes are divided. Are they quarterly like every NFL game? Is the time limit not set and the minutes don't matter like in baseball? There's so much confusion for the casual fan unfamilar with the game. However, the answer can be found here with a comprehensive breakdown of the action. After all, being a part of the NHL world is about helping your fellow person out. Here's how many periods are in a game of hockey.

There are three periods of hockey in a single game

The average person might not be familiar with how hockey works. They're probably busy worrying about what's happening with Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. Perhaps they're concerned with how their retirement funds will look at the end of the day. But they're not considering how many periods come in a hockey game. Never fear, dear reader, because you're covered here.

There are three periods in a regular hockey game. Each session is divided into 20-minute segments, with each team getting the opportunity to score goals. That is unless they take a bad penalty. In this case, a team has four players on the ice for two minutes (minor penalty) or even five minutes (major penalty if there's intent to harm or it's a malicious act; the power play expires when the time's up).

Whoever scores the most goals wins the game. That's the objective of every NHL game, for a team will win two points if it outscores its opponents. If the game goes to overtime, each team gets a point. After all, the game of hockey can sometimes be tough to get a decisive winner. That's why players like Adin Hill must remain on their A-Games.

The Vegas Golden Knights have made it their mission to play hard every 60 minutes. That means doing whatever it takes to win puck battles, beat your opponent in transition, and set up excellent scoring opportunities. Without this drive, the Golden Knights would probably look at Phoenix or Quebec City as their new home. That's something nobody wants to see.

Schedule