As the NHL playoffs begin, the intensity on the ice isn't the only thing that changes. The very rules of the game shift, bringing back the purest and most grueling form of hockey: true playoff overtime. Forget the regular season's 3-on-3 format and shootouts. When the Stanley Cup is on the line, it's a different beast entirely.

Starting this postseason, tied games will be settled the old-fashioned way. Teams will play full 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 hockey, with no shootout safety net. It's sudden death, meaning the first goal wins, and there's no limit to how long that can take. This is where legends are made and endurance is tested, both for the players on the ice and the fans on the edge of their seats.

We saw a preview of this marathon mentality in last year's epic Stanley Cup Final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers, where three of the first four games required extra time, including a double-overtime battle. Across the entire 2025 playoffs, 20 games went to OT, proving that when every shift counts, the drama is often just beginning at the end of regulation.

Here's how it works: after a tied game, teams get a 15-minute intermission for the ice to be resurfaced. Then, they return for a 20-minute overtime period. If no one scores, they do it all over again—fresh ice, full periods, continuous 5-on-5 play until a puck finally finds the back of the net. The physical and mental demand is immense, turning every shot into a potential series-altering moment.

This format has produced some of the most legendary games in hockey history. The record books are filled with marathon overtimes that pushed players to their absolute limit. While we gear up for the next chapter of playoff drama, let's remember a few of the longest battles ever fought:

The longest game in NHL history was a staggering six overtimes in the 1936 semifinals, where Mud Bruneteau ended the marathon for Detroit. More recently, the 2020 playoffs saw the Tampa Bay Lightning and Columbus Blue Jackets battle through five overtimes, a modern testament to playoff endurance. These historic clashes remind us that in the playoffs, you need to be ready for anything—because the game isn't over until it's over.