The Stanley Cup Final represents the peak of professional hockey—a series where every hit, shift, and goal carries championship implications. While the game remains consistent with regular-season play in many ways, the NHL Finals come with a few unique procedural and competitive considerations.
If you're tuning into the 2025 NHL Finals, here’s what you need to know about how the rules work at this stage of the playoffs.
The NHL Finals follow a best-of-seven format, with the first team to win four games securing the Stanley Cup. The series follows a 2-2-1-1-1 home/away structure, with the team holding the better regular-season record earning home-ice advantage.
That means Games 1, 2, 5, and 7 (if necessary) are hosted by the higher-seeded team, while the lower-seeded team hosts Games 3, 4, and 6.
There are typically two rest days between Games 2 and 3, as well as between Games 5 and 6, to account for travel and recovery.
One of the biggest differences between regular season and playoff hockey is how overtime is handled.
In the NHL Finals, overtime is played with full 5-on-5 strength and consists of 20-minute sudden death periods—just like regulation. The game continues with full periods until a team scores, and there is no shootout.
Each overtime period begins with a full intermission and is played just like a standard period, making stamina, depth, and endurance major factors.
This rule is consistent throughout the playoffs, but during the Finals, its impact is magnified—especially in tightly contested, low-scoring games.
All standard penalties apply during the Finals, including minor, major, and misconduct infractions. However, the league office may impose additional discipline or fines for incidents that occur during the Finals, including:
Officials tend to "let the players play" slightly more during the postseason, but penalties that impact player safety or significantly influence game flow are still called consistently.
Teams are also required to maintain full awareness of bench discipline, as unsportsmanlike conduct or too many men penalties can be game-changing at this level.
In the Stanley Cup Final, coaches still have access to one coach’s challenge per game, typically used for:
Each challenge must be used strategically, as a failed challenge results in a minor penalty for delay of game. All reviews are conducted through the NHL’s Situation Room in Toronto, working in conjunction with the on-ice officials.
In addition to the challenge system, the league may also initiate reviews in specific situations—particularly in the final minute of regulation or overtime.
Teams must submit their lineup prior to puck drop, including goaltenders and skaters. The standard active roster includes 20 players: 18 skaters and 2 goalies. Any lineup changes from game to game must be declared during the official pregame period.
Injuries are monitored closely but are often reported vaguely during the Finals, with teams opting for general terms like "upper-body" or "lower-body" injuries to maintain a strategic edge.
There are no mid-series injury list designations—teams make adjustments internally, often calling on depth players or rotating defensive pairings to manage fatigue.
While not a "rule" in the traditional sense, the Stanley Cup itself brings a unique set of procedures. If a team clinches the series at home or on the road, the NHL Commissioner will present the Cup on the ice immediately following the handshake line.
The winning team is responsible for organizing the Cup’s post-series travel and events in coordination with the NHL, including the famed "day with the Cup" tradition where each player receives personal time with the trophy during the offseason.
The NHL Finals in 2025 are governed by the same fundamental rulebook as the rest of the season—but every moment is magnified. With longer overtimes, higher stakes, and stricter scrutiny on discipline and replay, understanding the nuances of the Finals format adds depth to how you watch the game.
Whether it’s your first time following the Stanley Cup Final or you’ve been watching for years, knowing the rules behind the action makes every shift count just a little more.
