NHL periods and the clock: three periods of actual play
Read period labels and distinguish playing time from elapsed wall-clock time.
Regulation has three periods
NHL Rule 77.1 allows three 20-minute periods of actual play, with an intermission between periods. That is 60 minutes of regulation playing time, not a promise that the entire event ends one hour after the opening face-off.
A scoreboard showing second period with 12:00 remaining describes the current period's clock. It does not mean 12 minutes remain until a guaranteed final result. Another regulation period is still ahead.
Breaks are separate from the playing clock
Rule 77.2 ordinarily lists an 18-minute intermission, or another duration designated by the League. An intermission label is therefore different from active play and should not be treated as a running match clock.
A displayed clock can stay still during a stoppage without the score feed being broken. Check whether the game is in play, stopped or between periods before drawing that conclusion.
Tied regulation can lead to more play
Regular-season overtime and playoff overtime follow different procedures under Rule 84. A tied score at the end of the third does not establish a final draw in those NHL formats.
Read ScoreZaap's period, clock and match status together. The examples here explain labels; they are not reported events or a measured promise about how quickly a provider refreshes the clock.