For the first time in 12 years, NHL players will compete in the Olympic men’s hockey tournament.

After all that time away from Olympic hockey, it’s important to remember IIHF rules are significantly different than NHL rules. The Olympic tournament won’t be run like last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, which was played under NHL rules.

Here’s a refresher on the difference between NHL and Olympic rules.

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Rink size

In past Olympics, the size of the rink has been bigger than the standard NHL size of 200 feet long and 85 feet wide. Olympic ice in the past has actually been much wider at 98.5 feet long and a little shorter at 197.5 feet long.

The Olympics this year were originally designed to be played at a standard NHL size like 2010 Vancouver and 2022 Beijing. However, the rink ended up more than three feet shorter than NHL standard at 196.85 feet by 85.3 feet.

Most players when asked about the difference have said they don’t have a problem. And there should be minimal difference as the length will be taken out of the neutral zone, with the length from the blue line to the net remaining the standard NHL size.

Overtime

The overtime rules will differ in the preliminary round compared to the playoff round.

Preliminary round: Teams play one five-minute period of sudden-death three-on-three. If the game is still tied, there will be a shootout. The only difference between regular season NHL overtime is the shootout will be five rounds in the Olympics, not three.

Playoff round: This will run like the preliminary round, except the initial three-on-three overtime will be 10 minutes before moving to a five-round shootout if necessary.

Gold medal game: The IIHF changed traditional Olympic overtime to more closely resemble NHL rules. Overtime in the gold medal game will see teams play full 20-minute three-on-three periods until a winning goal is scored. The only difference between this overtime and Stanley Cup playoff overtime is it will be played at three-on-three instead of five-on-five.

Points system

The 12 countries in the men’s Olympic hockey tournament have been split into three groups of four in the preliminary round. Countries will play each team in their group once in a round-robin style.

The point system, however, differs from NHL rules. Regulation wins are worth three points, while overtime or shootout wins are worth two points. An overtime or shootout loss is worth one point and a regulation loss is worth no points.

Bigger bench

While the ice surface will be smaller than NHL size, Olympic rosters will be bigger. NHL game-day rosters allow for 18 skaters and two goalies to dress, but that increases to 20 skaters and two goalies in the Olympics.

Teams typically dress 13 forwards and seven defencemen, allowing for four forwards lines and an extra, plus three defence pairings and an extra.

Shorter intermissions

Olympic intermissions are shorter at 15 minutes compared to 18 minutes in the NHL. Fans and viewers likely won’t notice the difference, but it will be a noticeable adjustment for players who have a strict intermission routine in the NHL.

Fighting/penalties

The most well-known difference between the Olympics and NHL is the IIHF zero tolerance policy regarding fighting. Any players who engage in a fight in the Olympics will be ejected from the game and could face a suspension.

The IIHF is also stricter with checks to the head/neck, allowing referees to calls checks to the head as a major penalty and game misconduct. In the NHL checks to the head cannot be called major penalties or game misconducts. These hits in the NHL are either ruled a two-minute minor penalty or they can be called a match penalty.