Power play
In ice hockey, a power play is a temporary manpower advantage that occurs when one team has at least one more skater on the ice because an opponent is serving a penalty.
A power play is a temporary manpower advantage in ice hockey, created when one team has more skaters on the ice because the opponent is serving a penalty. It's one of the sport's prime scoring opportunities and a key special-teams situation.
What it is
A power play begins when a player is penalized and sent to the penalty box, leaving their team short-handed. The opposing team gains a numerical advantage – most commonly 5-on-4 – and can apply extra offensive pressure while the other team is on the penalty kill.
Duration and penalty types
Power plays typically last two minutes for minor penalties and five minutes for major penalties. On a minor penalty, if the power-play team scores, the penalty often ends early. Major penalties normally run the full five minutes regardless of goals.
Why it matters
Power-play efficiency is a key team statistic, measuring how often a team scores while on the advantage. A goal scored during a power play is recorded as a power-play goal, and teams with higher power-play percentages tend to have a significant edge in close games.
In short
- A power play happens when one team has more skaters due to an opponent's penalty.
- The most common setup is 5-on-4, lasting two minutes for a minor penalty.
- A power-play goal can end a minor penalty early.
- Power-play percentage is a standard measure of special-teams performance.
Power plays are a standard part of hockey in Canada at every level, from minor hockey to the NHL, and they are a familiar part of Canadian hockey vocabulary and broadcasting.
Quick questions
How long is a power play in hockey?
What is a power play goal?
Who has the most power play goals?
Sources
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_playSupports: Defines a power play in ice hockey as a numerical skater advantage when the opponent is serving a penalty.
- SportsMonkie — https://sportsmonkie.com/power-play-in-hockey-explained/Supports: Explains common power-play durations, goal effects on minor penalties, and the 5-on-4 setup.
- Rookie Road — https://www.rookieroad.com/hockey-power-plays-2179059/Supports: States that power plays last two to five minutes depending on penalty type and describes a power-play goal.
- JudgeMate — https://www.judgemate.com/en/guides/power-play-penalty-kill-explainedSupports: Explains the standard 5-on-4, 5-on-3, and 4-on-3 power-play situations and the penalty-kill counterpart.
- NHL — https://www.nhl.com/stats/teams?report=goals&season=career&gameType=2&sort=powerPlayGoals&dir=descSupports: Provides official NHL all-time team and player statistical records for power-play goals, including career leaders.