The Game – A hockey game consists of three 20-minute periods with two intermissions. Goals each count for one point and are scored by shooting the puck into a net that measures four feet high by six feet wide.

Overtime – If the score is tied after three periods of play, there will be an extra five- minute overtime period to decide a winner. The first team to score wins the game, but if no team can score in the five-minute period, the game goes into a shootout. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, however, the teams continue to play 20-minute periods with intermissions until a winning goal is scored.

Shootout – Five players on each team are chosen to take penalty shots against the opposing goaltender. A player from the visiting team goes first, followed by a player on the home team, and the procedure is repeated until the team with the most goals is declared the winner. If the score is still tied after each of the five players has gone, one player from each team will shoot again until a winner is determined.

AHL Standings – The standings are determined by awarding points according to each team’s record. AHL teams are awarded two points for a win, one for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero for a regulation loss.

Teams – Six players are on the ice for each team during the game. These players include the goaltender, right defenseman, left defenseman, center, right wing and left wing. In overtime during the regular season, each team plays with a goalie and only four skaters on the ice.

Scoring – A point is awarded to the player who scores the goal scored and to each player assisting on the goal. There can be up to two assists awarded on each goal.

Puck – Made of vulcanized rubber. It is three inches in diameter and one inch thick. It weighs about six ounces, and is frozen before games to make it slide and not bounce.

Rink – The official size of an AHL ice hockey rink is 200 feet long by 85 feet wide. In international play, such as the Olympics and World Championships, the dimensions are extended to 200 feet long by 100 feet wide.

The Goal – The goal posts extend vertically four feet above the surface of the ice and six feet apart measured from the inside of the posts.

Blue line – Two lines that mark defensive areas at both ends of the ice.

Red line – Line that equally divides the rink in half at center ice.