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Franzi | Games
Franzi | Games 
How does Ice Hockey work?
Puck, Powerplay, Penalty: what they mean and which betting options our providers offer – you’ll find it all right here with us.
approx. 3 min.
How does Ice Hockey work?
Come on, Powerplay!
The Basic Principle
The basic principle of ice hockey is fairly simple:
Two teams try to shoot a puck (a small, hard disc) into the opponent’s goal using their sticks in order to score points. The team with the most goals wins the game.
Here are the key facts about the game:
The rink:
- Ice hockey is played on a rectangular rink divided into three zones: the defensive zone, the neutral zone, and the attacking zone.
- There is one goal on each end of the rink.
- A total of nine face-off spots are marked on the ice.
Teams:
Each team consists of six players: one goaltender, two defensemen, and three forwards. Players can be substituted as often as needed throughout the game.
Playing time:
An ice hockey game is usually played in three periods of 20 minutes each (effective playing time). This means the clock stops whenever play is interrupted.
Rules of play:
- Offside: A player may not enter the attacking zone (the area in front of the opponent’s goal) before the puck crosses the blue line.
- Icing: If a team shoots the puck from its own half across the opponent’s goal line without it being touched, icing is called. Play then resumes with a face-off in the defensive zone of the team that iced the puck.
- Body contact: Ice hockey is a physical sport, and so-called “checks” (body contact used to stop the puck carrier) are allowed, as long as they are within the rules.
Penalties:
- Minor penalties: 2 minutes in the penalty box for smaller infractions, such as slashing or interference.
- Major penalties: 5 minutes for more serious fouls.
- Powerplay: When a team takes a penalty, the opponent plays with a numerical advantage (powerplay) until the penalty time expires or a goal is scored.
What Is a Faceoff?
A faceoff (also called “bully” in German) is the method used to restart play in ice hockey after a stoppage.
Two opposing players line up against each other in a designated faceoff spot. The referee drops the puck between them, and both players try to gain control using their sticks.
There are nine faceoff spots on the rink:
- One in the center of the ice
- Four in the corners of the attacking and defensive zones
- Four in the neutral zone
The exact location of the faceoff after a stoppage depends on the type of infraction or reason for the interruption.
Our Betting Options
All set? Let’s go!
MERKUR BETS offers a wide betting portfolio for ice hockey fans. Let’s take a closer look at some of these betting options.
With a goal bet, you can place your wager on the following options:
Even/Odd: Bet on whether the total number of goals in the match will be even or odd.
Example: 4 goals = Even, 5 goals = Odd.
Both Teams to Score: Bet on whether both teams will score at least one goal in the match.
With period bets, you can place wagers on each individual period.
Within these periods, you also have the option to place Over/Under bets.
With an Over/Under bet in ice hockey, you wager on whether the total number of goals scored in a match will be over (“Over,” e.g. 6+) or under (“Under,” e.g. 1–5) a predefined line.
IStock: Sergiy Zamureenko | Hanna Siamashka | gorodenkoff
