No points for a loss in regulation time If a game is tied after regulation time, a five-minute four-on-four sudden-death overtime session is played followed by a three-player shootout if necessary. Exceptions: quarter-finals, semi-final and bronze-medal overtime session are 10 minutes and gold-medal game overtime session is 20 minutes. If teams are tied in a standing based on points, the following tie-breakers are applied: 1) The most points earned in direct games involving tied teams. 2) The best goal differential in direct games involving tied teams. 3) The most goals scored in direct games involving tied teams. 4) Follow steps 1, 2 and 3 with games involving the highest non-tied team in the same group. 5) Repeat step 4 with games involving the second highest non-tied team in the same group. 6) Continue this process with all non-tied team games. This was also the first major IIHF championship that used the four-official system with two referees and two linesmen instead of standard three-official system with only one referee. Preliminary round Sixteen participating teams were placed in the following four groups. After playing a round-robin, the top three teams in each group advanced to the Qualifying Round while the last team competed in the relegation round. Group A All times are local (UTC-4). Group B All times are local (UTC-3). Group C All times are local (UTC-3). Group D All times are local (UTC-4). Qualifying round The top three teams in the standings of each group of the Preliminary Round advance to the Qualifying Round, and are placed in two groups: teams from Groups A and D compete in Group E, while teams from Groups B and C compete in Group F. Each team is to play three games in this round, one against each of the three teams from the other group with which they have been paired. These three games, along with the two games already played against the other two advancing teams from the same group in the Preliminary Round, will count in the Qualifying Round standings. The top four teams in both groups E and F to advance in quarter-finals. Group E All times are local (UTC-4). Group F All times are local (UTC-3). Relegation round Teams finishing last in all four Preliminary Round groups competed in the Relegation Round in order to determine which two nations would be relegated to the IIHF World Championship Division I.