Ice Hockey: Explainer
Browse SportsMonkie's explainer about ice hockey, organized in one crawlable topic hub.
11 articles in this topic.
Highest-Paid NHL Players: Ranked by Cap Hit (2025-26)
The 12 highest-paid NHL players by cap hit for 2025-26, ranked and verified: Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and more, plus why Kirill Kaprizov's record deal isn't #1 yet.
Hockey Referee Signals Explained: Every Penalty Arm Signal
Hockey referee signals decoded: the exact arm signal for hooking, tripping, slashing, cross-checking, high-sticking, holding, interference, and more.
Hockey Terminology Glossary: 60+ NHL Terms Explained
A complete hockey terminology glossary covering NHL rules, positions, penalties, and slang terms every fan needs to know.
Hockey Positions Explained: Every Role
Hockey positions explained: the center, wings, defensemen and goaltender, what each role does on the ice, and what F, D and G mean on a lineup.
How Do the NHL Playoffs Work?
The NHL playoffs are a 16-team, best-of-seven bracket: three division-based rounds plus wild cards lead to the conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final.
NHL Salary Cap Explained: The Hard Cap & Floor
The NHL has a hard salary cap with no luxury tax — teams cannot exceed it. It rises and falls with league revenue and comes with a salary floor teams must meet.
Overtime Rules in the NHL: How OT Works (2026)
NHL regular-season overtime is a 5-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death period; if still tied it goes to a shootout. Playoff overtime is full 5-on-5 sudden death until a goal.
What Is a Faceoff in Hockey?
A faceoff starts and restarts play in hockey: an official drops the puck between two opposing players at one of nine faceoff dots, and they battle to win possession.
What Is a Penalty Kill in Hockey?
A penalty kill is when a short-handed team defends against the opponent's power play after taking a penalty, trying to survive the two minutes without conceding.
What Is a Shootout in Hockey?
A hockey shootout decides a tied NHL regular-season game after overtime: teams alternate penalty-shot attempts, best of three, then sudden death, for one standings point.
What Is Offside in Hockey?
Offside in hockey means an attacking player crosses the offensive blue line ahead of the puck. Play stops and a faceoff is held outside the zone.