Short answer
The big differences: fighting gets you ejected, medal games never end in a shootout, shootouts use five shooters instead of three, and teams dress 22 players. International rinks can be up to 30 meters wide, but the 2026 Olympic rinks were 60 by 26 meters, about 1 meter shorter than an NHL rink.
The differences at a glance
| Rule | Olympics (IIHF) | NHL |
|---|---|---|
| Rink | IIHF rules: 60 m long, 26 to 30 m wide. Milan 2026: 60 by 26 m (196.85 by 85.3 ft) | 200 by 85 ft (60.96 by 25.9 m) |
| Fighting | Not allowed; usually ejection, and suspensions can carry over between IIHF events | Five minute major for each fighter, usually offsetting |
| Overtime, early games | Up to 5 minutes, three on three, then a shootout | Regular season: 5 minutes three on three, then a shootout |
| Overtime, quarterfinals and semifinals | 10 minutes three on three, then a shootout | Playoffs: 20 minute periods five on five, no shootout |
| Overtime, medal games | 20 minute periods three on three until a goal, no shootout | Same as playoffs |
| Shootout | Five shooters per team, then tiebreak rounds | Three shooters per team, then sudden death rounds |
| Game roster | Up to 22 dressed: 13 forwards, 7 defense, 2 goalies (tournament roster up to 25 men, 23 women) | Two fewer dressed players |
| Intermissions | 15 minutes | 18 minutes |
| Icing and offside | Generally the same as the NHL | Generally the same |
| Standings points | 3 for a regulation win, 2 for an overtime or shootout win, 1 for an overtime or shootout loss | 2 for any win, 1 for an overtime or shootout loss |
NHL playoff overtime and points rules are given for comparison; check the NHL rules for the full text.
Rink size, in detail
For decades the Olympic game was played on wider international ice, which favors skating and puck movement over hitting. Vancouver 2010 was the first Olympics on an NHL size rink. For Milan 2026 the IIHF set both sheets at 60 by 26 meters: about 1 meter (3 feet) shorter than an NHL rink and 9 centimeters wider, the same as Beijing 2022. The IIHF called the difference insignificant.
Rules that changed over time
- 1920: seven players a side (including a rover), two 20 minute periods, no forward passes, outdoor natural ice on a 56 by 18 meter rink. The IIHF adopted Canadian rules (six a side, three periods) right after.
- 1969: body checking allowed in all three zones; before that only in the defending zone.
- 1970 and 1972: helmets, then goaltender masks, made mandatory.
- 1992: playoffs with a gold medal game replaced the final round robin, with shootouts for tied medal round games.
- 1998: the two line pass allowed.
Who can play
A player must be a citizen of the country and under the jurisdiction of its national association. A player who switches countries after playing in an IIHF event must first play four years in the country they switch to, and can switch only once. More in how qualifying works and NHL players in the Olympics.
Questions people ask
Is fighting allowed in Olympic hockey?
No. Under IIHF rules a fight usually means ejection from the game, and suspensions can carry over to the next IIHF event. In the NHL each fighter normally gets a five minute major. At Milan 2026, Canada’s Tom Wilson and France’s Pierre Crinon were both ejected for fighting.
How does overtime work in Olympic hockey?
Preliminary round: up to five minutes of sudden death three on three, then a shootout. Quarterfinals and semifinals: a 10 minute three on three period, then a shootout. Bronze and gold medal games: 20 minute periods of three on three until someone scores, with no shootout.
Is the Olympic rink bigger than an NHL rink?
It can be. IIHF rules allow 60 meters long by 26 to 30 meters wide, while the NHL uses 200 by 85 feet (about 61 by 26 meters). Vancouver 2010, Beijing 2022 and Milan 2026 used NHL size or near NHL size sheets; Milan’s were 60 by 26 meters.
Can women body check in Olympic hockey?
No. Body checking is prohibited in women’s hockey under IIHF rules.
Sources
- NHL rules (league rule book)
- NBC Olympics: Olympic hockey rules (IIHF regulations, penalties, fighting, eligibility)
- NBC: Olympic hockey vs NHL rules, rink size, fighting, overtime and shootouts
- Deseret News: Olympic hockey and NHL rule differences (Feb. 10, 2026)
- AP: Olympic hockey in Milan will be played on shorter ice than NHL dimensions (Dec. 8, 2025)
- Wikipedia: Ice hockey at the Olympic Games
Last reviewed October 29, 2026. Spotted an error? Results are checked against the linked sources; tell us through the corrections note on the about page.