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Last updated: Aug 31, 2023
When a penalty occurs in hockey, a team is penalized by being required to play one fewer player for a predetermined duration of time. Read on to learn about power plays in hockey, which result from penalties.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Power Play in Hockey?
- Power Play Rules
- Matching Penalties
- Power Play Length
- Overtime Power Plays
- FAQ
What Is a Power Play in Hockey?
A power play in hockey is when a team has a one or two-man advantage on the ice due to a penalty being taken by the other team.Power plays happen when a penalty is called on a player for an illegal act. For example, if one team commits a minor penalty, the other team will be on the power play for the next two minutes.
While one team has a power play, the other team is short-handed, as they are down a player. If both teams commit a minor or major penalty at the same time, neither team will have a power play, as neither of them will have more skaters than the other while the penalty is served.
To figure out if a team is on the power play, you can look at the scoreboard to see if one team has a penalty. If that is the case, the other team is on the power play. It will also be easy to tell that one team has more skaters on the ice than their opponent.
Power Play Rules
- The player that committed the penalty must sit in the penalty box, giving their opponent a power play.
- For minor penalties, the penalty clock expires, and the power play is over if the team on the power play scores a goal.For major penalties, the player must serve their full penalty time, regardless of a goal being scored.
- If a goal is scored by the team that is short-handed, the penalty clock continues ticking, and the offending player remains in the penalty box.
- The team that is down a player (short-handed) can not be called for icing.
Matching Penalties
Matching penalties, also known as coincidental penalties, occur when two players on opposite teams receive minor penalties at the same time.This situation is handled differently in different leagues and levels of play. However, in the NHL, both teams play a man down for the duration of the penalty, resulting in 4-on-4 play until both players serve their two-minute penalties or a goal is scored. In this circ*mstance, no team has a power play because both teams are playing without a single player.
Power Play Length
A power play can last between two and five minutes based on the type of penalty that was called.On a minor penalty, a power play will last two minutes or until a goal is scored by the team on the power play. On a major penalty, a power play will always last five minutes.
A power play can continue through to the next period if time is remaining on the penalty clock. In a tie game, penalties will also carry over into overtime if there is still time remaining on the penalty clock at the end of regulation.
Overtime Power Plays
During the NHL’s regular season, overtime is played 3-on-3. If there is a penalty called in overtime, the team who goes on the power play will have an extra skater, creating a 4-on-3 power play. If two penalties are taken by the same team, a 5-on-3 power play will follow. In the NHL playoffs, 5-on-4 and 5-on-3 power plays can happen as overtime is played 5-on-5.
FAQ
Can both teams be on a power play at the same time?
No, both teams cannot be on a power play at the same time.However, they can have matching penalties that result in a player from each team serving time in the penalty box. In order for a team to be on a power play, they need to have more skaters on the ice than their opponent, making it impossible for both teams to have a power play at the same time.
What happens if a goal is scored on a power play in hockey?
If a goal is scored by the team on a power play, the power play ends if the player is serving a minor penalty. If the player is serving a major penalty, their team will remain short-handed until the penalty clock expires. If a goal is scored on a power play by the team that is short-handed, the power play is not over for their opponent.
When do power plays happen in hockey?
If a penalty is called on a player in a game, they are sent to the penalty box for a designated amount of time, based on the severity of the penalty. When the offending player is sent to the penalty box, this results in a power play.
