Do Power Plays Roll Over in NHL?

The NHL rulebook can feel like a labyrinth at times, especially for new fans. One question that often pops up revolves around the fate of power plays: Do Power Plays Roll Over In Nhl?

The short answer is no, power plays don’t roll over in the NHL. When a penalty expires in the NHL, the penalized player returns to the ice, even if the power play hasn’t resulted in a goal. This is in contrast to some other hockey leagues where a power play might continue until a goal is scored, often referred to as a “full two minutes.”

Understanding NHL Penalty Timekeeping

To fully grasp why power plays don’t roll over, it’s important to understand how penalty time is kept in the NHL:

• Simultaneous Penalties: If penalties are assessed to both teams at the same time, the time is served concurrently. This means if a player from each team receives a two-minute minor penalty, the teams will play 4-on-4 for two minutes, not four.
• Delayed Penalties: If a penalty is called on a team that doesn’t have possession of the puck, the play continues until the opposing team loses possession or a goal is scored. This is known as a delayed penalty.
• Coincidental Penalties: If penalties are called on both teams simultaneously, and neither team has clear possession, the penalties are deemed coincidental. In this scenario, both teams play short-handed, but the penalized players do not leave the ice immediately. Instead, they serve their penalties from the penalty box, and their teams play with a reduced number of skaters on the ice.

Strategic Implications of Non-Rolling Power Plays

The fact that power plays don’t roll over has significant strategic implications for NHL teams:

• Aggressive Penalty Killing: Teams are more likely to employ aggressive penalty killing tactics, knowing they can’t be punished with a “rolling” power play if they fail.
• Importance of Face-offs: Winning face-offs becomes even more crucial on the power play, as teams have a limited window to capitalize.
• Late-Game Strategy: In the dying minutes of a close game, teams trailing by a goal might pull their goalie for an extra attacker even if they’re on the power play. This is a high-risk, high-reward tactic, as an empty net goal against would effectively seal the game.

FAQs about Power Plays in the NHL

1. What happens if a goal is scored while a penalty is being killed?

If the team with the power play scores, the penalty is immediately negated, and the penalized player returns to the ice. If the short-handed team scores, the penalty is served in full.

2. Can a team have more than one power play at once?

Yes, a team can have two players in the penalty box simultaneously, resulting in a 5-on-3 power play. However, no more than two players from one team can serve penalties at the same time.

3. What are the different types of penalties in the NHL?

Common penalties include minor penalties (2 minutes), major penalties (5 minutes), misconduct penalties (10 minutes), and game misconducts (ejection from the game).

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