Have you decided that hockey is your new personality trait but actually don’t know anything about it? Maybe you have a crush on a hockey player, maybe your friends keep talking about the NHL (National Hockey League) and you have absolutely no idea what they’re saying, or maybe you are trying to impress someone by knowing the basics? Maybe you just want a different sport to talk about other than the also-occurring NFL season.
Whatever brought you here, welcome to your hockey girl era.
Hockey can look intimidating at first. The players move incredibly fast; everyone seems to know what “icing” means and somehow the puck disappears every five seconds. But once you understand the basics, the game becomes much easier –and honestly, a lot more fun to watch.
And trust me, I’m not writing this as someone who grew up knowing every player, rule and statistic. I’m learning, too—and that’s exactly why I think hockey is worth giving a chance.
So, before the NHL regular season gets underway on Sept. 29, 2026, here is your beginner’s guide to understanding what is happening on the ice.
First Things First: What Even Is Hockey?
At its simplest, hockey is two teams trying to put a puck into the other team’s net more times than the opponent. Think soccer, field hockey, lacrosse-–object in net = a score on the board.
Each team has six players on the ice at a time: five skaters and one goalie. The skaters are made up of three forwards and two defensemen, while the goalie’s entire job is to make sure that the puck does not enter the net.
An NHL game is divided into three 20-minute periods. A goal counts when the puck completely crosses the goal line.
The team with the most goals at the end of regulation wins. If the game is tied during the regular season, it goes into overtime, followed by a shootout if necessary.
Sounds simple enough, right?
Well… now it’s time for the rules.
Hockey Rules You Actually Need to Know
You do not need to memorize the entire NHL rulebook before watching your first game. Start with a few important terms and scenarios.
Offside
A player can’t enter the attacking zone before the puck does. The blue line is your bestie here. If you’re watching and suddenly hear the announcer talking about whether someone’s skate was over the line, congratulations—you’ve discovered offside.
Icing
Icing happens when a player shoots the puck from behind the center red line all the way past the opposing team’s goal line without anyone touching it. The play is stopped, and the puck comes back for a faceoff in the offending team’s zone.
Penalties
When a player breaks certain rules, they can be sent to the penalty box for a set amount of time. This creates one of hockey’s most exciting situations: the power play.
Power Play
Power play means one team has more players on the ice because the other team has someone serving a penalty. The advantaged team tries to score, while the short-handed team is on the penalty kill, trying to survive until their teammate returns.
To put it simply:
Power play = advantage
Penalty kill = disadvantage
And just know: when you see a team score on a power play, it’s a pretty big deal.
But Who is Who?
Now that we’ve covered the basic rules, let’s talk about the people actually playing the game.
The Forwards: Center, Left Wing & Right Wing
The center is usually right in the middle of the action. Centers take face-offs, help create scoring opportunities and often move all over the ice to support both the offense and defense.
The left and right wings generally play along their respective sides of the ice and are often responsible for helping create scoring chances.
The Defensemen
These positions are there to, well, defend. They protect their team’s net, block shots, battle opponents for the puck and help move the puck up the ice.
The Goalie
The goalie is the last line of defense and probably the easiest player to identify. They’re wearing significantly more equipment than everyone else and standing directly in front of the net. Their job is to stop the puck from going in.
If they make an absolutely ridiculous save that makes you question the laws of physics, you are allowed to become emotionally attached to them. Every fandom either loves their goalie to the extent of defending their name or is absolutely infuriated with them because of how the game is going.
So How Does an NHL Season Actually Work?
The NHL currently has 32 teams, and during the 2026-2027 season, each team will play 84 regular season games—two more than in previous seasons. The regular season begins September 29 and runs through April 10.
But the regular season is only the beginning.
Teams spend the regular season competing for a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Once the playoffs begin, the stakes get much higher. Teams face off in best-of-seven series, meaning the first team to win four games advances.
Eventually, only two teams remain.
Those two teams compete in the Stanley Cup Final, where one team becomes the Stanley Cup champion.
And yes, this is where the emotional attachment/personality trait you have developed becomes a serious (not really) problem.
The 2026-2027 season officially starts Tuesday, September 29, with an opening-night lineup that includes the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes hosting the Florida Panthers, the New York Rangers visiting the Boston Bruins and the Chicago Blackhawks visiting the Vegas Golden Knights.
Consider this your official invitation to start watching.
So, What Should I Actually Watch For?
The first thing you’ll want to notice is a power play. When one team has an extra skater, watch how they move the puck around the offensive zone, looking for an opening.
Keep an eye out for breakaways, too. That’s when a player gets a clear path toward the opposing goalie with little or no defense between them. Cue the stress.
You’ll also hear commentators talk about an odd-man rush, which is when the attacking team has more players moving toward the net than the defending team has available to defend them. A two-on-one is a common example.
Then there are the big hits, blocked shots and ridiculous goalie saves that make hockey feel like the fastest sport you’ve ever watched.
Pay attention to faceoffs, too. They happen whenever play stops and winning them can help a team gain possession of the puck.
You’ll also start noticing line changes. Hockey players don’t stay on the ice for an entire period. They take shifts, usually lasting less than a minute or so, before heading back to the bench and being replaced by fresh legs.
And then there’s overtime.
If you thought hockey was fast at five-on-five, just wait until you watch overtime. Suddenly, every mistake feels ten times more important.
You might also see a team pull its goalie late in a game when it is behind. That means there is no goalie in the net, giving the team an extra attacking skater in an attempt to tie the game.
It is also a great way to experience the unique anxiety of watching someone shoot a puck at an empty net.
Welcome to your hockey girl era
You don’t need to understand every penalty, know every player or be able to explain the difference between every type of hockey strategy to enjoy the NHL.
Start with the basics. Pick a team that catches your attention (a local favorite, a memorable mascot, whatever works). Watch a game. Follow a player you like. Ask questions. Learn the terminology as you go.
Eventually, you’ll find yourself yelling at the television about a missed call you definitely understand now.
And suddenly, you’re one of the hockey girls.
The best part? You don’t have to know everything before you start. I sure didn’t.
So, grab your jersey, find your team and get ready. The NHL season is almost here.
Your hockey girl era starts now!