8 Longest Hockey Games Ever: Epic Overtime Battles That Made History

How long can a hockey game actually last? While regular NHL games run 60 minutes, some playoff battles have stretched beyond 176 minutes—nearly three full games of non-stop action. These marathon showdowns test every limit: player stamina, fan endurance, and even ice quality itself.

From the legendary 1936 six-overtime thriller to modern playoff epics, hockey's longest games have created some of sports' most unforgettable moments. Here are the eight most grueling hockey marathons ever recorded.

Understanding Hockey Overtime

Regular season NHL games use five-minute 3-on-3 overtime followed by a shootout. But playoff hockey? That's different. Teams play full 20-minute sudden-death periods until someone scores—no matter how long it takes. This format has produced legendary marathon battles.

The 8 Longest Hockey Games Ever

1. Detroit Red Wings vs Montreal Maroons (1936): The Ultimate Marathon

Game Length: 176 minutes, 30 seconds (6 overtimes)

Final Score: Detroit 1, Montreal 0

Date: March 24, 1936

The undisputed champion. This Stanley Cup semifinal started at 8:30 PM and didn't end until 2:25 AM—nearly six hours later.

Rookie Mud Bruneteau finally scored 16:30 into the sixth overtime, giving Detroit their first-ever Stanley Cup run. Red Wings goalie Normie Smith made an astounding 90 saves. Without Zambonis in 1936, the ice became nearly unplayable after four periods.

Bruneteau's stick and the game-winning puck are permanently displayed in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Detroit swept the series and won their first championship. The Maroons, devastated by the loss and financial troubles, folded permanently in 1947.

2. Boston Bruins vs Toronto Maple Leafs (1933): The Other Six-Overtime Classic

Game Length: 164 minutes, 46 seconds (6 overtimes)

Final Score: Toronto 1, Boston 0

Date: April 3, 1933

Only two NHL games have ever reached a sixth overtime. Ken Doraty scored 4:46 into the sixth period to send Toronto to the finals in this semifinal Game 5. Like 1936, deteriorating ice conditions made play increasingly difficult. Toronto won the series 3-2 but lost in the championship round.

3. Philadelphia Flyers vs Pittsburgh Penguins (2000): The Modern Marathon

Game Length: 152 minutes, 1 second (5 overtimes)

Final Score: Philadelphia 2, Pittsburgh 1

Date: May 4, 2000

The longest NHL game since World War II. Keith Primeau ended it 12:01 into the fifth overtime, beating Penguins goalie Ron Tugnutt. Players described feeling like zombies by the final periods—running purely on muscle memory and adrenaline. The goal tied the Eastern Conference semifinal series 2-2, and Philadelphia advanced to the conference finals.

4. Columbus Blue Jackets vs Tampa Bay Lightning (2020): The Bubble Battle

Game Length: 150 minutes, 27 seconds (5 overtimes)

Final Score: Tampa Bay 3, Columbus 2

Date: August 11, 2020

The most recent five-overtime NHL game, played in the COVID-19 bubble. Brayden Point scored 10:27 into the fifth overtime. Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy made 61 saves while Blue Jackets' Joonas Korpisalo stopped 113 shots—the most in a playoff game since the 1930s. Tampa Bay went on to win the Stanley Cup.

5. Mighty Ducks of Anaheim vs Dallas Stars (2003): Western Conference Warfare

Game Length: 140 minutes, 48 seconds (5 overtimes)

Final Score: Anaheim 4, Dallas 3

Date: April 24, 2003

Petr Sykora scored just 48 seconds into the fifth overtime to end this Western Conference semifinal thriller. The game showcased the physical toll of extended hockey—players cramping, exhausted, running on pure determination. Anaheim advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals, where they lost to New Jersey in seven games.

6. Florida Panthers vs Carolina Hurricanes (2023): The Recent Epic

Game Length: 139 minutes, 47 seconds (4 overtimes)

Final Score: Florida 3, Carolina 2

Date: May 18, 2023

Matthew Tkachuk scored with just 13 seconds remaining in the fourth overtime to give Florida a series lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. The game started at 8:10 PM Thursday and ended nearly at 2:00 AM Friday.

What made this especially brutal: both teams had already played through two complete playoff rounds before this marathon. As one fan noted online: "They played almost two and a half games in one night. The players have to be absolutely exhausted." Both goalies—Sergei Bobrovsky and Frederik Andersen—were spectacular throughout.

7. Storhamar Hockey vs Sparta Warriors (2017): The World Record Holder

Game Length: 217 minutes, 14 seconds (8 overtimes)

Final Score: Storhamar 2, Sparta 1

Date: March 12, 2017

This Norwegian league playoff game holds the Guinness World Record for longest professional hockey match. Starting at 6:00 PM, it didn't end until 2:32 AM—over eight hours of real time.

Joakim Jensen scored the winner for Storhamar. Sparta faced extra difficulty with only three forward lines instead of four, meaning less rest between shifts. One Sparta forward had already played a full game earlier that day. The marathon became an international sensation, with fans worldwide following the epic battle on social media.

8. Chester, Nova Scotia Charity Marathon (2022): The Ultimate Endurance Test

Game Length: 262 hours (11 days)

Purpose: Cancer charity fundraiser

Amount Raised: Over $2 million

While not competitive hockey, this represents the absolute limit of hockey endurance. Team Hope and Team Cure played continuously for 11 days, with the same 40 players skating over 12 hours daily. Players' feet swelled two to three sizes, demonstrating the incredible physical toll. The marathon raised over $2 million for cancer research, proving hockey's spirit extends beyond competition.

What Makes Hockey Marathons Special

These marathon games transcend normal sports, becoming tests of human endurance that create lifetime memories. From Mud Bruneteau's 1936 heroics to modern playoff epics, they remind us why hockey's greatest moments are worth the wait.

The next time playoff hockey goes to multiple overtimes, stay with it. You might be witnessing history.