Ice Hockey Scoring, Assists and Overtime
A hockey goal is worth one point, but the scoresheet credits up to three players for it — which is why assists matter as much as goals in a player's record.
Goals and assists
The scorer gets the goal. Up to two assists are awarded to the players who touched the puck immediately before, provided the opposition did not gain control in between. A goal plus an assist each count as one point in a player's season total.
Game format
- Three periods of 20 minutes of playing time.
- The clock stops on every whistle.
- Teams change ends after each period.
Breaking a tie
Regular-season ties go to a short overtime played three-on-three, which opens the ice dramatically and usually settles it. If not, a shootout follows. Playoff games instead play full twenty-minute sudden-death periods until someone scores.
Frequently asked questions
Three goals by the same player in one game. Fans traditionally throw hats onto the ice when it happens.
A player gains +1 when their team scores at even strength while they are on the ice, and −1 when it concedes. It measures presence on the ice rather than individual production.