It's Over Quickly

Overtime hockey is some of the most exciting moments in all of sports. As you likely know, things can change in an instant in hockey whether it be a fluky shot that finds a seam or a bouncing puck that handcuffs a goalie. Overtime is stressful for fans of the teams playing because any mistake could end up being the end of the game, but it's also joyous when the team for which one is cheering scores that goal. What's weird, though, is that overtime doesn't seem to go very long in the NHL nowadays, and this year's playoffs are following that trend as there haven't been many games that reached a second overtime period, let alone the midway point of the first overtime period.

This is just going to be a quick observation tonight as I was running around after work trying to get a whole pile of stuff done after having worked the majority of last week. I know I won't finish everything tonight, but if I can make a dent on all the things that need to be done - grcoery shopping, mowing the lawn, doing dishes, doing laundry - I won't feel like I'm a tourist in my own house. However, let's get this observation made.

There have been 15 games that have reached the end of regulation time with the teams tied on the scoreboard through the Stanley Cup Playoffs thus far. Both Dallas and the New York Rangers have played the most overtime games with four games going to extra time for each of them. However, the Rangers' 4-0 record in extra time compared to the Stars' 2-2 record shows a vast difference in terms of winning in the extra frame. Edmonton, for the record, is 2-1 in extra time in these playoffs while Florida is sitting at 1-2 so far.

Eight of the 15 games have ended within six minutes of overtime starting. The fastest overtime period happened back on April 28 when Vancouver's Elias Lindholm scored 62 seconds into the extra frame against Nashville. The longest game saw overtime extend to 31:42 when Dallas needed double-overtime to beat Colorado on Matt Duchene's goal on May 17. That was also the only game that broke that the 30-minute mark of extra time needed.

Over those 15 games, the teams have combined to play for 165:53 of extra time with Dallas logging the most extra time in these playoffs at 79:40 so far. By comparison, the Rangers have played 48:43 of extra time, the Oilers have 28:17 of extra time to their name, and the Panthers have logged 22:35 of overtime. Of all the teams that reached overtime, Nashville played the least at 62 seconds. Only two teams didn't see overtime - Washington and Winnipeg - while the Islanders and Kings were the only teams with winning overtime records in Round One who didn't advance.

Only four games have reached double-overtime, and both Dallas and Carolina were involved in two games each that hit the fifth period. The shortest start to the fifth period was just 32 seconds when Connor McDavid scored against Dallas in Game One on May 23 for a 20:32 total of extra time. The longest was the Dallas-Colorado game on May 17 as mentioned above. The two games in between those book ends were a 21:24 overtime total between the Islanders and Hurricanes on April 27 and a 27:24 overtime total between the Rangers and Hurricanes on May 7.

Of the 15 games, three have finished within the 1:00-2:00 timeframe (20.0%), three have finished in the 2:00-3:00 timeframe (20.0%), and two have finished within the 5:00-6:00 marks (13.3%). Three have finished between 11:00 and 17:00 (20%), and the other four have gone beyond the first period (26.7%). With that being said, don't get settled in for a long overtime with eleven games being completed in the first overtime period (73.3%). Teams aren't looking for marathon games, it seems, as they're scoring before they hit the fourth break.

There are some quick numbers on the overtime games seen thus far in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. It seems likely that we'll have a few more overtime games before Gary Bettman hands one of the captains the Stanley Cup, so we'll see how those games go as we get closer to the end of the playoffs. If I were a betting man, I'd expect quick endings to these games, though, as shown in the trends above!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!