October – June (Stanley Cup)
NHL game times
NHL puck drops at 7pm ET are a midnight habit in the UK and a lunchtime one in Scandinavia-friendly Central Europe... if you're up for it. Standard times converted below.
Puck drop is typically 7pm US Eastern; Stanley Cup Final games ~8pm ET.
Typical NHL start times, by region
Pick your region for the full local guide:
The regular slots (in UK time)
DST-adjusted for the coming week. Swap region using the links above.
| Slot | Scheduled | 🇬🇧 UK time (GMT/BST) |
|---|---|---|
Weeknight games (typical) | 19:00 New York | 00:00 (next day) |
Stanley Cup Final (typical) | 20:00 New York | 01:00 (next day) |
NHL — quick answers
How long does an NHL game last?
Three 20-minute periods take about 2.5 hours of real time; playoff overtime is sudden-death and can extend games well past that.
When does the NHL season start?
Early October, running 82 games per team to April, with the Stanley Cup playoffs stretching into June.