NCAA hockey overtime rules: How extra time works in Frozen Four
NCAA hockey overtime rules: How extra time works in Frozen Four
Austin Curtright, USA TODAY NETWORKSat, April 11, 2026 at 10:03 AM UTC
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NCAA hockey overtime rules: How extra time works in Frozen Four
Denver needed two overtimes to take down No. 1 Michigan in the Frozen Four on Thursday, April 9, advancing to the national championship game against Wisconsin in Las Vegas (5:30 p.m. ET, ESPN). Meanwhile, the Badgers also needed two overtimes to defeat No. 3 Michigan State earlier in the NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament.
What if the national championship game goes to overtime? With how both teams are playing entering the final game of the season, it's entirely impossible.
REQUIRED READING: Michigan vs Denver hockey highlights: Pioneers knock off Wolverines in double OT
The Pioneers upset the Wolverines 4-3 when captain Kent Anderson scored the winning goal with seven minutes left in the second overtime. Wisconsin defeated No. 2 North Dakota in the Frozen Four, scoring its two goals in quick succession in the second period before the Fighting Hawks scored their only goal of the game with a minute left in regulation.
Denver has won two of the last four national championships, while Wisconsin last won in 2006.
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Here's a look at how overtime works in college hockey, should the national championship need extra time to determine a winner between Denver and Wisconsin:
NCAA hockey overtime rules: How does Frozen Four extra time work?
Unlike the regular season overtime rules, the postseason and Frozen Four operate under a different format.
If postseason NCAA hockey games are tied after regulation, teams will play 20-minute periods of 5-on-5 sudden death until a team scores. It's different from regular season rules, as all regular season games must play a five-minute overtime period of 3-on-3 until the first team scores, also ending in sudden-death style, according to NCAA rules. If the game remains tied after the 3-on-3 overtime period, the game goes to a mandatory shootout.
The ice is resurfaced before the 20-minute overtime period in postseason play, according to NCAA rules. Each team is allowed a one-minute timeout per overtime period.
Denver and Michigan's Frozen Four game went to two overtimes on Thursday, April 9, as the game was tied after regulation and after the first 20-minute overtime period. The game ended on a game-winning goal seven minutes into the second period.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NCAA hockey overtime rules: How Frozen Four extra time works
Source: “AOL Sports”
