<P> Following the lead of minor leagues , as of the 2005 -- 06 season , the NHL ends exhibition and regular season games still tied after a five - minute - length , three - skaters - per - side overtime period ( as of the 2015 -- 16 NHL season onwards ) with a shootout . The NHL format is a three - round shootout with tiebreaker rounds as needed . All skaters ( except goalies ) on a team 's roster must shoot before any player can shoot a second time . On December 16 , 2014 the longest shootout in NHL history went to 20 rounds before Nick Bjugstad of the Florida Panthers scored to defeat the Washington Capitals ; the previous record was 15 rounds . </P>
<P> Following the lead of minor leagues , as of the 2005 -- 06 season , the NHL ends exhibition and regular season games still tied after a five - minute - length , three - skaters - per - side overtime period ( as of the 2015 -- 16 NHL season onwards ) with a shootout . The NHL format is a three - round shootout with tiebreaker rounds as needed . All skaters ( except goalies ) on a team 's roster must shoot before any player can shoot a second time . On December 16 , 2014 the longest shootout in NHL history went to 20 rounds before Nick Bjugstad of the Florida Panthers scored to defeat the Washington Capitals ; the previous record was 15 rounds . </P>
what was the longest shootout in nhl history
what was the longest shootout in nhl history
20 rounds
20 rounds