Overtime is stressful time to be a fan, and it's even more stressful trying to understand the nuances when it comes to the rules. Here is a simple breakdown of how your team going to overtime affects their playoff hopes. 

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When a team goes to overtime, they automatically notch a point towards their total that determines their final standings, crucial to qualifying for the Calder Cup Playoffs and determining seeding. 

Meaning while your team losing a heartbreaker in overtime isn't ideal, it does still give them much needed points in the long run. Following an overtime period and traditional shootouts comes a nerve wracking sudden death shootout to determine who walks away a winner. 

Here are all the AHL overtime rules below. 

AHL Overtime Rules

In short, following a tied game, the teams will face off in an overtime period followed by a shootout. If there is no winner after three shootout rounds, the game progresses to a sudden death shootout until one team can claim victory. If a game is tied at the end of the third period, both teams will receive a point towards the league standings. 

Three on three hockey takes place for a five minute overtime period.. Penalties allow for the teams to add a fourth lineman to attempt to score, however if no one scores in the five minute period, the game progresses to a shootout. Teams get three shots in a shootout to attempt to pull away, but if not, every skater must shoot in a sudden death style finish until one team can be declared a winner. However, during the playoffs, both teams will compete in five on five twenty minute overtime periods till a winner can be determined, similar to the NHL. 

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