A power play is when one team has more skaters on the ice because the other team took a penalty. A minor penalty sends the player to the box for 2 minutes, a double minor for 4, and a major for 5. The shorthanded team is on the penalty kill. A minor ends early if the power-play team scores.
Most of the time, hockey is five skaters plus a goalie on each side. When a player breaks a rule, he goes to the penalty box and his team has to play a man down. That imbalance is the power play, and it is where a huge share of NHL goals come from.
What is a power play in hockey?
When a player is penalized, he sits in the penalty box and his team cannot replace him. For the length of the penalty, the other team has a man advantage, usually five skaters against four. That team is on the power play.
Power-play units are usually built around a team's best offensive players. They set up in the attacking zone and move the puck around the four defenders, looking for a shot through traffic or a one-timer. Two penalties at once makes it five-on-three, which is a very good chance to score.
A team's power-play percentage is simply power-play goals divided by power-play opportunities. You will see it on every team's stat page and on TV graphics.
What is a penalty kill in hockey?
The penalty kill is the other side of it: the shorthanded team trying to survive until the penalty ends. Penalty killers block shots, pressure the puck carrier and clear the puck down the ice whenever they can.
Penalty killers get a break on one rule: a shorthanded team is allowed to ice the puck, so they can fire it the length of the ice without a whistle (see icing). A team's penalty-kill percentage is the share of opponents' power plays it gets through without allowing a goal.
A goal scored by the shorthanded team is a shorthanded goal. It counts like any other goal, and it does not end the penalty.
What are the types of penalties in the NHL?
| Penalty | Time | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Minor | 2 minutes | The common one: tripping, hooking, slashing, holding, interference. Ends early if the other team scores. |
| Double minor | 4 minutes | Two back-to-back minors for one foul, most often high-sticking that draws blood. |
| Major | 5 minutes | Fighting, or a serious foul that injures an opponent. Served in full, even if goals are scored. |
| Misconduct | 10 minutes | The player sits, but his team is not shorthanded: a teammate can replace him on the ice. |
| Game misconduct | Rest of the game | The player is ejected. Often comes with a major for a dangerous hit. |
| Match penalty | Rest of the game | Ejection for deliberately injuring or trying to injure an opponent. The team serves 5 minutes shorthanded, and a suspension review follows. |
| Penalty shot | One attempt | Awarded when a foul from behind takes away a clear scoring chance, such as a breakaway. |
How does a power play end?
- A minor penalty ends after 2 minutes or when the power-play team scores, whichever comes first. If two minors are being served, a goal releases only one player, the one whose penalty started first.
- A double minor is treated as two minors back to back. A goal during the first 2 minutes ends the first half; the second 2 minutes still have to be served.
- A major penalty is served in full no matter how many goals are scored.
- Coincidental penalties, when players from both teams are penalized at the same time for matching infractions, usually cancel out on the ice. Depending on the situation, the teams stay at five-on-five or play four-on-four.
A team can never be reduced below three skaters. If a third penalty is called while two players are already in the box, that penalty waits to start until one of the first two ends.
What is a delayed penalty?
When the referee sees a penalty against the team that does not have the puck, he raises his arm but lets play continue until the penalized team touches the puck. During that time, the team with the puck usually pulls its goalie for an extra attacker. There is little risk, since the penalized team cannot touch the puck without stopping play. If the attacking team scores during a delayed penalty, a minor penalty is wiped out, because the goal already "cashed in" the advantage.
What are the most common penalties?
- Tripping: using the stick or body to knock an opponent off his feet.
- Hooking: using the stick blade to impede an opponent.
- Slashing: swinging the stick at an opponent's body or stick.
- Holding: grabbing an opponent or his stick.
- Interference: hitting or blocking a player who does not have the puck.
- High-sticking: hitting an opponent with the stick above the shoulders.
- Cross-checking: hitting an opponent with the shaft of the stick held in both hands.
- Roughing: punching or shoving after the whistle, short of a fight.
- Delay of game: for example, shooting the puck over the glass from your own defensive zone.
- Too many men: a bad line change that leaves extra players on the ice. It is a bench minor, served by a player the coach designates.
Goalies can be penalized too. Because a goalie cannot sit in the box without his team losing its goalie, a teammate who was on the ice serves the time for him.
What are NHL penalty minutes?
Penalty minutes (PIM) are the total time a player or team has been assessed in penalties. A minor adds 2, a major 5, a misconduct 10. PIM is a rough measure of how disciplined (or how physical) a player is. The NHL career record belongs to Dave "Tiger" Williams, with 3,966 penalty minutes.
Why the power play matters for the standings
Special teams decide close games. A team that draws a lot of penalties and converts its power plays can win games it is outshot in, and a strong penalty kill shuts down opponents' best weapon. If your team is in a tight playoff race, its power play and penalty kill numbers are worth watching just as closely as its record.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a power play in hockey?
- A power play is when one team has more skaters on the ice than the other because of a penalty. It usually means five skaters against four for 2 minutes.
- What is a penalty kill in hockey?
- The penalty kill is the shorthanded team defending while one or more of its players serve a penalty. Its goal is to prevent the power-play team from scoring until the penalty ends.
- What is an ice hockey power play worth?
- A minor penalty gives the other team a 2-minute power play, ending early if they score. A major penalty gives a 5-minute power play that is served in full.
- How long is a penalty in hockey?
- A minor penalty is 2 minutes, a double minor 4 minutes, a major 5 minutes and a misconduct 10 minutes. Game misconducts and match penalties eject the player for the rest of the game.
- Does a shorthanded goal end the penalty?
- No. A goal scored by the shorthanded team counts normally, and the penalty keeps running.
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