How long was the longest hockey game ever? All the facts and details

How long was the longest hockey game ever? All the facts and details

Helix Odhiambo
November 17, 2023 at 7:15 AM

Hockey is one of the most exciting sports to watch. Ice hockey is the most popular, followed by millions of people globally. North America's National Hockey League (NHL) is the most competitive league, with the best teams and players. The longest hockey game ever recorded lasted over two and a half hours, wearing out players and fans.

Longest hockey game ever
The Florida Panthers players (red top) defend against Jordan Staal (11) of the Carolina Hurricanes during their Stanley Cup Playoffs at FLA Live Arena on 24 May 2023. Photo: Bruce Bennett
Source: Getty Images

Ice hockey is a fast-paced team sport that accommodates players with speed, agility, and skills who can propel a puck into goals. Over the years, the NHL has treated fans to exciting matches, including some that changed history. This article brings you a list of the longest games in NHL history.

Is the hockey game long?

Most hockey games take at least two and a half hours, including 60 minutes of playing. The game has three periods, each 20 minutes long. There are also two 18-minute breaks between the periods.

If the teams have equal scores at the end of regulation, the game heads to overtime to determine the winner. NHL overtime periods are scheduled for 20 minutes and will continue until a team scores and the winner gets decided via sudden death.

What is the longest hockey game ever played?

Longest hockey game ever NHL
Dallas Stars fans cheer on their team after a lengthy playoff drought against the Anaheim Ducks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs at the American Airlines Center on 21 April 2014. Photo: Glenn James
Source: Getty Images

According to sources, a group of 40 players in Alberta earned the Guinness World Record for playing the longest hockey game for 261 hours. The charity event, held at the Chestermere Recreation Centre in Chestermere, Alberta, raised $1 million for the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation.

Longest hockey game ever in the NHL

The longest NHL hockey game was the 1936 Stanley Cup semifinals between the Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons. It was one of the most memorable games in NHL history, with the two teams battling for glory for nearly three hours.

NHL game Duration Date

Red Wings vs Montreal Maroons

176 minutes, 3 seconds

24 March 1936

Maple Leafs vs Bruins

164 minutes, 46 seconds

3 April 1933

Flyers vs Penguins

152 minutes, 1 second

4 May 2000

Blue Jackets vs Lightning

150 minutes, 27 seconds

11 August 2020

Stars vs Ducks

140 minutes, 48 seconds

24 April 2003

Panthers vs Hurricane

139 minutes, 47 seconds

18 May 2023

Capitals vs Penguins

139 minutes, 15 seconds

24 April 1996

Stars vs Canucks

138 minutes, 6 seconds

11 April 2007

Maple Leafs vs Red Wings

130 minutes, 18 seconds

23 March 1943

Stars vs Sharks

129 minutes, 3 seconds

4 May 2008

How long was the longest hockey game ever played? Here is a breakdown of the top 10 longest hockey games and how they played out.

10. Stars vs Sharks (2-1)

What is the longest hockey game ever?
Brad Richards (91) of the Dallas Stars handles the puck against the San Jose Sharks during their 2008 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs on 4 May 2008 in Dallas. Photo: Ronald Martinez
Source: Getty Images

The Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks played out a thrilling and intense Western Conference semifinal game on 4 May 2008, which lasted 129 minutes and 3 seconds. The teams drew 1-1 at the end of regulation, forcing the game into overtime. Brenden Morrow's goal in the fourth overtime sealed a 2-1 win for the Stars, taking them to the final.

9. Maple Leafs vs Red Wings (3-2)

Longest hockey games
William Nylander (in blue) of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates against Detroit Red Wings players at the Scotiabank Arena on 2 April 2023 in Toronto, Canada. Photo: Mark Blinch
Source: Getty Images

Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings clashed in an entertaining Stanley Cup semifinal match in 1943. The teams finished 2-2 in regular time and went into four overtime periods. Jack McLean scored the game-winner for the Maple Leafs, preventing the game from entering the fifth overtime. The match lasted for 130 minutes and 18 seconds.

8. Stars vs Canucks (4-5)

How long was the longest hockey game ever played?
Jeff Halpern (L) of the Dallas Stars moves the puck against Henrik Sedin of the Vancouver Canucks during the 2007 NHL Western Conference match on 21 April 2007 in Dallas. Photo: Ronald Martinez
Source: Getty Images

Henrik Sedin's masterclass against Dallas Stars in April 2007 helped his club overcome their opponents in the Western Conference quarterfinal match. The teams made dozens of shots during the game, which lasted 138 minutes and 6 seconds.

7. Capitals vs Penguins (2-3)

Longest ever field hockey game
Pter Nedved of the Pittsburgh Penguins moves the puck during a game against the Buffalo Sabres at the Marine Midland Arena in Buffalo, New York, 1996. Photo: Rick Stewart
Source: Getty Images

Seventh on the list is the 1996 Eastern Conference quarterfinal between the Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins. The match took 139 minutes and 15 seconds as players showcased incredible skills. Petr Nedved bagged the winner for the Penguins with just 45 seconds left in the fourth overtime.

6. Panthers vs Hurricanes (3-2)

What is the longest Stanley Cup overtime?
Matthew Tkachuk (19) of the Florida Panthers celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the Carolina Hurricanes at the FLA Live Arena on 24 May 2023 in Florida. Photo: Joel Auerbach
Source: Getty Images

The Florida Panthers needed 139 minutes and 47 seconds to defeat the Carolina Hurricanes in a historic game on 18 May 2023. Matthew Tkachuk scored the winner, earning the Panthers a hard-fought victory in game one of the Eastern Conference final.

5. Stars vs Ducks (4-3)

Longest hockey game ever NHL
Dallas Stars players (R) celebrate a goal during their 2003 Western Conference Stanley Cup playoffs in April 2003 in Canada. Photo: Jeff Vinnick
Source: Getty Images

The Dallas Stars outlasted the Vancouver Canucks in their Western Conference semifinal match on 24 April 2003 after playing overtime. Petr Sykora scored in the fifth extra frame, earning his team a crucial win. The game lasted 140 minutes and 48 seconds.

4. Blue Jackets vs Lightning (3-2)

Is the hockey game long?
Columbus Blue Jackets players celebrate a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning during the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoff at Scotiabank Arena on 19 August 2020 in Toronto. Photo: Chase Agnello-Dean
Source: Getty Images

Brayden Point's winner in the fifth overtime gave the Blue Jackets an advantage over the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first-round playoff game. The teams faced off on 11 August 2020 and registered the fourth longest hockey game of 150 minutes, 27 seconds.

3. Flyers vs Penguins (2-1)

Longest hockey game ever recorded
Keith Primeau of the Philadelphia Flyers looks on during the Flyers 5-4 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at the Arrowhead Pond in Anaheim, CA, on 6 February 2002. Photo: John Cordes
Source: Getty Images

The Philadelphia Flyers and the Pittsburgh Penguins played the longest hockey game in modern NHL history. The two Pennsylvania rivals went to five overtimes after a 1-1 draw. Keith Primeau's strike lifted Philadelphia Flyers supporters after waiting for 152 minutes and 1 second.

2. Maple Leafs vs Bruins (1-0)

What is the longest hockey game ever?
Maple Leaf players celebrate a goal against the Vancouver Canucks at the Scotiabank Arena on 11 November 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Photo: Mark Blinch
Source: Getty Images

Hockey fans witnessed a nail-biting encounter between the Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins on 3 April 1933 that will stick in people's minds for years. The game went into six overtime before Ken Doraty broke the deadlock for the Maple Leafs after 164 minutes and 46 seconds.

1. Red Wings vs Montreal Maroons (1-0)

Longest hockey game ever recorded
Former Detroit Red Wings player Kris Draper lifts the Stanley Cup while celebrating the 1996-97 Championship on 3 November 2022 in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Dave Reginek
Source: Getty Images

The Detroit Red Wings and the Montreal Maroons made history by playing the longest hockey game ever, with a time of 176 minutes and 3 seconds. The two teams played in the semifinal of the Stanley Cup, lasting six overtimes. The record has stood for dozens of years since 24 March 1936.

What is the longest Stanley Cup overtime?

The game between the Montreal Maroons and Detroit Red Wings is the longest playoff hockey game ever in Stanley Cup history. The teams played nearly two hours of extra time in six overtime in the semifinal. Here is a breakdown of the top five longest Stanley Cup matches.

Match

Year

Overtimes

Extra time

Red Wings 1-0 Montreal Maroons

1936

Six

116 minutes and 30 seconds

Toronto Maple Leafs 1-0 Boston Bruins

1933

Six

104 minutes, 46 seconds

Philadelphia Flyers 2-1 Pittsburgh Penguins

2000

Five

92 minutes, one second

Tampa Bay Lightning 3-2 Columbus Blue Jackets

2020

Five

90 minutes, 27 seconds

Anaheim Mighty Ducks 4-3 Dallas Stars

2003

Five

80 minutes, 28 seconds

Longest college hockey game ever

The University of Minnesota Duluth and North Dakota game on 27 March 2021 is the longest college hockey game in history. The teams played 142 minutes and 13 seconds, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) records.

Only three NCAA hockey games have reached the 100-minute mark. They are: St. Lawrence vs Boston University on 26 March 2000 (123 minutes, 53 seconds), Wisconsin vs Cornell on 26 March 2006 (111 minutes, 13 seconds), and Maine vs Michigan on 30 March 1995 (100 minutes, 28 seconds).

Longest ever field hockey game

According to the Guinness World Record, the longest field hockey match lasted 51 hours. The game featured 27 players, who also broke a record of 50 hours set by a group in England.

Will the record for the longest hockey game ever be broken? The record has stood for several years since 1936, but breaking it in the current generations is challenging. The sport has evolved through technology and other modern dynamics that ensure teams find ways of winning without playing for long periods.

READ ALSO: All the MLS logos ranked: Which is the best logo in the MLS?

Sports Brief also ranked the MLS logos according to design, simplicity, adaptability, and uniqueness. MLS logos are the emblems or visual representations each Major League Soccer franchise uses. The logos have evolved in line with the success of various teams.

Logos are crucial symbols that bond clubs with their followers, symbolise their principles, and contribute to the league's overall spirit. Follow the above link to get more insights.

Authors
Helix Odhiambo photo
Helix Odhiambo
Helix Odhiambo is an award-winning Kenyan journalist and content creator with over 6 years of experience. In 2016, he won the Goal Blaze Correspondent Award for young writers.