Power play
Temporary player advantage following an opponent's penalty.
A power play is a temporary numerical advantage in players enjoyed by one team following a rule violation by the opposing team. In ice hockey, a team is on a power play when at least one opposing player is serving a penalty and the team has more skaters on the ice than the penalized team. Specialized tactics and strategies apply during this period.
- Minor penalty duration
- 2 minutes
- Double-minor penalty duration
- 4 minutes
- Major penalty duration
- 5 minutes
- Maximum skaters on power play
- 5-on-3
- Misconduct penalty duration
- 10 minutes
- Short-handed goal effect
- Does not end the power play
Lore & Background
In ice hockey, a power play occurs when a player from the opposing team is assessed a minor, double-minor, or major penalty, forcing that player off the ice without substitution. A power play resulting from a minor penalty ends if the advantaged team scores; a double-minor is treated as two consecutive minors, with a goal in the first two minutes ending only the first minor. A major penalty power play does not terminate upon a goal, except in overtime when the game ends. If a goaltender commits a minor, double-minor, or major penalty, another player who was on the ice serves the penalty instead. Misconduct and game misconduct penalties allow substitution and do not create a power play, though they are often assessed alongside a minor or major penalty. Special rules govern when three or more players on the same team must serve penalties simultaneously, ensuring at least three skaters remain on the ice while all penalties are fully served.
Reader's Guide
The power play is a central strategic element in ice hockey, creating a high-leverage scoring opportunity for the advantaged team. Teams employ specialized formations and tactics to exploit the extra skater, while the shorthanded team focuses on defense and may attempt a short-handed goal. A goal scored by the shorthanded team does not end the power play. If the shorthanded team prevents a goal for the duration of the penalty, it is said to have killed the penalty; if the advantaged team scores, it has converted the power play. During a power play, icing is not called, allowing the shorthanded team to clear the puck freely, except in U.S. youth hockey (14-and-under) where icing is enforced at all times. In overtime formats with fewer skaters, such as the NHL's three-on-three regular-season overtime, the power play concept is modified: if regulation ends with a team on the power play, that team starts overtime with more than three skaters, and penalties during overtime grant the non-penalized team an extra skater.
More in Ice Hockey Terminology, Part 2 1-24
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