How many intermissions are in a hockey game?

There are two intermissions in a standard NHL game — one after the first period and one after the second. That's 36 minutes of intermission on top of 60 minutes of play.

How long is the intermission before overtime?

The break before regular-season overtime is much shorter than a normal intermission — usually about one minute, with no ice resurfacing. In the playoffs, the intermission before overtime is a full-length break with an ice resurface.

How long is a whole NHL game?

Three 20-minute periods make 60 minutes of play, but with two 18-minute intermissions plus stoppages, a full NHL broadcast usually runs about 2.5 hours.

How Long is an NHL Intermission?

Short answer: 18 minutes — and there are two of them, one after the first period and one after the second.

The 18-minute break

The intermission clock starts as soon as the period horn sounds and counts down to the next puck drop. Most of that time goes to resurfacing the ice, which is why hockey's break is longer than soccer's 15 minutes or the NFL's 13.

Want the exact time left in a game happening right now? Check the live NHL intermission clock for today's games.

Two intermissions, 36 minutes total

A standard game is three 20-minute periods with an 18-minute intermission between each — so a full game carries 36 minutes of intermission on top of 60 minutes of play. Add stoppages and a broadcast typically runs about 2.5 hours.

What about overtime?

Regular-season overtime follows a very short break — roughly a minute, with no ice resurfacing. Playoff overtime is different: teams get a full-length intermission and the ice is resurfaced before each extra period.

How the NHL compares to other sports

NHL: 18 minutes, two intermissions.
Soccer: up to 15 minutes, one break — see the soccer halftime guide.
NFL: 13 minutes, one break — see the NFL halftime guide.

NHL intermissions — frequently asked questions

How long is an NHL intermission?: An NHL intermission is 18 minutes long. The clock starts when the period ends and counts down to the puck drop for the next period, giving crews time to resurface the ice.
How many intermissions are in a hockey game?: There are two intermissions in a standard NHL game — one after the first period and one after the second. That's 36 minutes of intermission on top of 60 minutes of play.
How long is the intermission before overtime?: The break before regular-season overtime is much shorter than a normal intermission — usually about one minute, with no ice resurfacing. In the playoffs, the intermission before overtime is a full-length break with an ice resurface.
How long is a whole NHL game?: Three 20-minute periods make 60 minutes of play, but with two 18-minute intermissions plus stoppages, a full NHL broadcast usually runs about 2.5 hours.