Ice hockey
Three periods, one puck, no goal forgotten.
The clock counts down, like on the ice, and every goal takes one tap.
Score a matchThe puck goes in, you tap.
Start the clock at the face-off, stop it on the whistle, tap the color that scored. Try it!
- 3 periods of 20 min
- Countdown clock
- Every goal in one tap
- Pick ice hockey, and name the two teams.
- Start the clock at the face-off, stop it on every whistle. On every goal, tap the color that scored.
- At the end of each period, the app says so. The referee calls every goal, and the last two minutes of the 3rd period.
The rules, in short.
What the IIHF rule book says, and nothing more.
- 3 × 20
Playing time
3 periods of 20 minutes of actual play, and 15 minutes of intermission between them. The clock stops on the whistle and on a goal.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rules 34, 77.1 and 77.2 - Goal
A good goal
The puck must fully cross the line between the posts, off an attacker’s stick, with the net in place. It also counts off an attacker’s skate or body, or when a defender puts it into their own net.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 78.4 - 2 min
The power play
A minor penalty sends a skater off for 2 minutes, with no substitute. If the team with more players scores, the shortest minor penalty ends and the player returns, except on a penalty shot.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rules 16.1 and 16.2 - 5
A tie, in the preliminary round
If it’s tied in the preliminary round: sudden-death overtime of up to 5 minutes, with three skaters and a goalkeeper. The first goal wins.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 84.1 - 5
The shootout
With no goal in overtime: 5 different shooters per team, taking turns. Still tied: sudden-death shots. Only the deciding goal counts in the final score.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 84.4 - 10
In the playoffs
In elimination games and the bronze medal game, overtime lasts up to 10 minutes, still three on three.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 84.5 - 1
The time-out
One 30-second time-out per team per game, never during the shootout.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 87.1 - Ends
Changing ends
Teams change ends every period of regulation time, but not in preliminary-round overtime.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rules 84.1 and 86.3
Or stay at the boards.
One press per goal, on your watch or the three buttons on your earbuds: ⏮ for pink, ⏭ for yellow. ⏯ starts or stops the clock; two quick presses undo the last goal.
The questions people ask.
How many periods are in ice hockey?
3, each of 20 minutes of actual play.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 77.1How long is an ice hockey game?
3 times 20 minutes of actual play, plus 15 minutes of intermission between periods. By the wall clock, a game lasts well over an hour.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rules 77.1 and 77.2How many players are on an ice hockey team?
Up to 22 on the game sheet, including 2 goalkeepers. To start, a team must dress at least five skaters and a goalkeeper.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 5What happens when an ice hockey game is tied?
In the preliminary round, 5 minutes of sudden-death overtime, three on three, then a shootout. In the playoffs, overtime lasts 10 minutes.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rules 84.1, 84.4 and 84.5How many time-outs are there in ice hockey?
Just one for each team in the game, and it lasts 30 seconds.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 87.1When is a goal disallowed in ice hockey?
When the puck goes in off a distinct kicking motion, is thrown or deliberately batted in with the body, deflects in off an official, or is touched by a stick above the crossbar. Also when an attacker interferes with the goalkeeper in the crease, or when the net was knocked off by accident.
IIHF, Official Rule Book 2026/27, Rule 78.5