Show Us Your Hockey Smarts by Acing This NHL Quiz!

By: Kale Havervold

How long are minor penalties like Hooking, Interference, Charging etc..?

The standard time for most penalties in an NHL game is two minutes. The only way that this can be cut down is if the opposing team scores, as the penalized player will get out of the box when a power play goal is scored.

The oldest player to score a goal in the NHL is...?

Gordie Howe is the only player in NHL history to score a goal over the age of 50. In addition to that, he actually played 80 of 82 games in his final season and scored 14 other times that year.

How long is a "Double Minor" penalty?

There are a variety of different infractions that can lead to a double minor penalty but the most common is when a high-sticking infraction draws blood, it is immediately called as a double minor.

Who has won the most Hart Trophies in their career?

As you might have expected, Wayne Gretzky is the owner of the most Hart Trophies in league history. He won nine during his career and only one other player won the award in the 1980s. That shows just how dominant Gretzky was during his prime.

Which team has won the most Stanley Cups ever?

The Montreal Canadiens have been around since 1909 and are the longest continuously operating professional ice hockey team. They have won 24 Stanley Cups in the history of their storied franchise.

Who is the current (as of 2018) captain of the Edmonton Oilers?

In addition to being the captain, many believe Connor McDavid is the best player in the NHL, even though he is only 21 years old. He has a very bright future in the league.

Who is the tallest player to ever play in the NHL?

Zdeno Chara has been in the NHL for well over 20 years and is still going strong as the captain of the Boston Bruins. He stands at a towering 6'9".

Where is the Hockey Hall of Fame located?

It's only fitting that the Hockey Hall of Fame is located in Toronto, Canada. The Hall of Fame is spread out over 60,000 square feet and it is a great place for any fan of the game to check out.

As of today, what happens if a game is tied after 3 periods?

In the past, it was a 5 on 5 overtime period followed by a shootout, and now it is a 3 on 3 overtime followed by a shootout. This allows for a more fast-paced and open overtime period.

Who has scored the most career NHL points?

Wayne Gretzky scored an unbelievable 2857 points in his NHL career, which is nearly 1,000 more than second place. In fact, if he wouldn't have scored a single goal, he would still lead the league in points.

In Detroit, it is tradition to throw what animal on the ice?

Throwing dead octopus onto the ice has been a tradition in Detroit since the 1950s. Back then, it took 8 wins to win the Stanley Cup, so the 8 tentacles on the octopus symbolized those wins.

How many games are there in a standard NHL season?

The NHL (and also the NBA) have an 82-game schedule. This is for scheduling purposes to ensure everyone plays divisional opponents, conference opponents and out-of-conference opponents a suitable amount of times.

This coach has won more regular season games than anyone else, who is he?

Scotty Bowman is a true legend in the world of coaching and has 1244 regular season wins, which is the most ever. Compare this to his 573 losses and you see just how great of a coach he was.

Which player was the first goalie to popularize wearing a mask?

Back in 1959, Jacques Plante was struck with a puck to the face that caused severe bleeding. After being stitched up, he returned to the game wearing a mask. The trend soon caught on and within a few years most goalies were wearing masks.

Which goalie has the most career regular season wins?

Brodeur had a storied 20+ year career with the New Jersey Devils winning just about every award a goalie can win. He retired with 691 regular season wins, which is more than 100 more than second place.

Who was the youngest player to be named captain of their team?

When he was only 19 years old, Connor McDavid was given the captain's patch for the Edmonton Oilers. This made him the youngest captain in history, beating out Gabriel Landeskog by only 20 days.

Who has played the most games in NHL history?

In addition to being the oldest player to ever suit up for an NHL team, Gordie Howe has played more games than anyone else, at 1767. He played from 1946 to 1980.

Who has the most goals in an NHL season?

Wayne Gretzky holds many different NHL records and is almost universally seen as the best player ever. He scored a whopping 92 goals back in 1981-82, which is a record that will likely never be broken.

What is the highest number of goals scored by a single team in an NHL game?

The most goals scored by a team was 16 when the Montreal Canadiens scored 16 on the Quebec Bulldogs way back in 1920. Fun fact, they also scored 14 in a game during the same season.

Which goalies was the first to score an NHL goal off his own shot?

While Hextall isn't the first goalie to be credited with a goal, he is the first to register a goal from his own shot. He scored his ice-length goal back in 1987. He is one of only 11 goalies to ever be credited with a goal.

Which player has taken home the most James Norris Memorial Trophies?

Bobby Orr will likely go down as the most talented defenceman to ever play in the NHL. He won 8 Norris trophies and not only is that the most ever, but he won all 8 in a row.

Who is the shortest player in NHL history?

Roy "Shrimp" Worters will go down as the shortest player in NHL history as he stood only 5'3". However, despite his height, he recorded 66 shutouts in his career and won both the Vezina and the Hart.

Which team wasn't a part of the 1983 NHL Draft?

The St. Louis Blues did not participate in the 1983 NHL draft because of problems with ownership. Owners in St. Louis wanted to sell to a group in Saskatoon, but other owners didn't like the idea so there was a large dispute.

This man has scored the most points as a defenseman in his career.

Bourque played over 1600 games in his NHL career and nearly scored a point a game, which is great for a defenseman. He scored a total of 1579 points, with 410 of them being goals.

Out of all the players in NHL history, who has the most Stanley Cup wins as a player?

While his brother (Maurice "The Rocket" Richard) is often thought of as the better player, Henri won more Stanley Cups. As a player, he hoisted the Stanley Cup an absurd 11 times in his career.

How many faceoff spots are there on the ice during an NHL game?

Each NHL rink has 9 different places that faceoffs can occur after game stoppages. There is the spot at center ice, two in each attacking zone and two on each end of the neutral zone.

Which team holds the record for longest winning streak?

While the Blue Jackets came close in 2017, the record is still 17, which is held by the Pittsburgh Penguins. They achieved this feat back in the 1992/93 season, fresh off a Stanley Cup win.

Who was the last NHL player to play without a helmet?

Because he signed his pro contract before helmets were made mandatory in 1980, Craig MacTavish was free to play without wearing a helmet until he retired in 1997.

Who has won the Vezina more than anyone else in history?

During his long and illustrious career, Jacques Plante won a record 7 Vezina trophies as the best goaltender in the league. He is also among the most innovative and influential players ever.

Who has the most penalty minutes in NHL history?

Dave "Tiger" Williams was one of the toughest players to ever play in the league. He played from 1974-1988 and had a whopping 3971 penalty minutes during his long career.

What is the record for the most saves in an NHL game?

Back in the 1936 playoffs, Red Wings goalie Normie Smith made 92 saves in a shutout against the Montreal Maroons. The game went to a whopping six overtimes.

Which player scored the most points in a single game?

Only a select few players have scored 8 points in a game, but Sittler went far beyond that. He is the only player in history to get 10 points in a single game, which he did back in 1976.

When both the Canucks and Sabres joined the NHL in 1970, how was it decided who would get the 1st overall pick?

That's right, a roulette wheel was used to decide who got the first pick. Canucks were allocated 1-10 and Sabres were given 11-20, and it landed on 11.

How many times has the NHL experienced a lockout caused by a labor dispute?

The NHL has had four separate lockouts that have occurred as a result of labor disputes. While most just led to a shorter season, the 2004-05 lockout canceled the entire year.

Who was the oldest 50 goal scorer in history?

Bucyk was 35 years old when he scored 50 goals back in 1970-71, which makes him the oldest to complete the feat. It was also his only 50-goal season of his career.

Explore More Quizzes

Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

Hockey has long been among the most popular sports in Canada, and is seemingly becoming more popular in the USA and the rest of the world as well. It is unlike any sport out there and is capable of producing some outstanding moments. The NHL is also full of some of the greatest and toughest athletes on the planet. 

Also, with more than 100+ years of history in the NHL, it is among the longest active professional sports leagues in North America and has a ton of history as a result. If you fancy yourself a sports history buff, the NHL is the perfect place to challenge yourself.  In order to truly consider yourself a hockey expert, you need to be aware of the rules, stats, players of the game and so much more. 

Think you've got what it takes? Know who has scored the most goals in an NHL season or how long a player spends in the penalty box for a double minor? How about which goalie has the most wins ever or who has the most Stanley Cup wins? This quiz is sure to test even the brightest hockey mind. 

Without any further ado, read on and challenge yourself on our quiz of all things relating to hockey and the NHL.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!