Ultimate NHL Trivia Quiz

13 – 26 Questions 10 min

This NHL quiz targets your recall of teams, players, rules, records, and Stanley Cup history across different eras. It especially benefits dedicated fans, youth and adult coaches, fantasy hockey managers, and sports content creators who want sharper command of key dates, stats, and high-pressure playoff moments.

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Part 1 — Questions

Answer each question on paper. Do not turn the page until you are ready to check your work.

In standard even-strength play during an NHL game, how many skaters (excluding the goalie) does each team have on the ice?

In NHL regular-season overtime, teams play 3-on-3 skaters before going to a shootout if no goal is scored.

True
False

In an NHL stat line, a goalie is listed with a 2.35 GAA. What does Goals Against Average (GAA) represent?

Total goals allowed during the season
Average goals scored by his team per game
Save percentage converted into goals
Average goals allowed per 60 minutes played

In NHL trivia questions about championships, what is the name of the trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff champion?

Stanley Cup
Presidents' Trophy
Art Ross Trophy
Hart Memorial Trophy

For a regular-season NHL game, what is the maximum number of skaters (excluding goalies) that a team is allowed to dress?

The Presidents' Trophy is awarded to the NHL team that wins the Stanley Cup Final.

True
False

In official NHL scoring, a secondary assist can still be awarded on a goal even if the defending team clearly gained possession of the puck during the sequence.

True
False

A coach designing a power play wants one player at the point, three players spread across the middle, and one player near the net-front. Which power-play setup is being described in this NHL trivia scenario?

1-3-1
Umbrella
Diamond
Box

During a game, your team allows a goal and video on the bench shows the attacking team clearly entered the zone offside just before the goal. Which type of coach's challenge should you request?

Delay of game by the attacking team
Playing the puck with a high stick
Offside leading to a goal
Interference on the goaltender

10.

In an advanced stats report for your hockey quiz, a player's Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 is listed as 58%. What does this primarily indicate?

His team gets 58% of all shot attempts while he is on the ice
His team wins 58% of his faceoffs while he plays
He is on the ice for 58% of his team's power-play time
He is on the ice for 58% of his team's goals

11.

Your team draws a delayed penalty and pulls the goalie for an extra attacker. Before the referee can blow the whistle, an opponent accidentally shoots the puck into their own empty net. What is the correct ruling?

Play is stopped for the penalty and the goal does not count
The goal counts for your team and the penalty is still served
Faceoff in the neutral zone with only the penalty applied
The goal is disallowed and the penalty is canceled

12.

A new fan taking an NHL quiz is confused about what types of infractions can result in a minor penalty. Which of the following actions can be called as a minor penalty? Select all that apply.

A.Cross-checking an opponent in open ice
B.Icing the puck from behind center
C.Winning a faceoff by kicking the puck
D.Shooting the puck directly over the glass from your own zone
E.Tripping an opponent with the stick

13.

You are building advanced NHL trivia questions about what counts as a shot on goal. Which of the following situations are recorded as shots on goal? Select all that apply.

A.A wrist shot from the blue line that the goalie gloves and holds
B.A backhand attempt that hits the inside of the post and goes in
C.A dump-in from center that the goalie catches behind the net
D.A wraparound attempt that is stopped by the goalie's pad on the goal line
E.A slap shot that misses the net and hits the end boards

14.

In a tight playoff game, you are the home coach and want your checking line on the ice every time the opponent's top line comes out after a whistle. Which rule gives you this matchup advantage?

Shorter distance to the bench for the home team
Last change after a whistle for the home team
No line change after an icing by the road team
Restricted puck-handling area behind the net for goalies

15.

Two NHL teams finish the regular season tied in points, and you are writing NHL trivia questions about how the standings are broken. According to current rules, which statistic is checked first as a tiebreaker?

Regulation wins
Head-to-head record
Goal differential
Total goals scored

16.

Your team is protecting a one-goal lead with a defensive-zone faceoff in the final minute. Which tactics are typically used by NHL coaches in this situation? Select all that apply.

A.Use a checking line with a strong faceoff center
B.Send out your top scoring line to threaten a quick counterattack
C.Have wingers line up tight to the hash marks to tie up opposing forwards
D.Win the puck back and quickly clear it off the glass and out
E.Instruct defensemen to immediately chase the puck below the goal line

17.

Arrange these key phases of a typical NHL year in the correct chronological order, starting from the earliest and ending with the latest.

Put these in the correct order (write 1–6 beside each):

____NHL Entry Draft
____Preseason exhibition schedule
____Conference playoff rounds
____Free agency signing period
____Stanley Cup Final
____Regular season games

18.

In a data-driven strategy session, your NHL team is down by two goals with 3:30 left and has an offensive-zone faceoff. Which consideration most strongly supports pulling the goalie immediately rather than waiting until about one minute remains?

The opponent has taken more penalties than average this season
Your goalie has posted an unusually high save percentage in this game
Extra attacker time remaining has more impact on comeback odds than the risk of an extra empty-net goal
Your team has a higher season-long faceoff win percentage

19.

You are managing an NHL roster right up against the salary cap. Which of the following situations still create a cap charge for your team this season? Select all that apply.

A.A defenseman whose salary you are retaining after trading him to another team
B.A veteran player your team bought out before the season
C.A former player who became an unrestricted free agent last summer
D.A forward you keep as a healthy scratch on the NHL roster
E.A rookie whose entry-level contract slid because he stayed in junior all year

Part 2 — Answer key

Compare your answers after you have finished Part 1.

In standard even-strength play during an NHL game, how many skaters (excluding the goalie) does each team have on the ice?
5
In NHL regular-season overtime, teams play 3-on-3 skaters before going to a shootout if no goal is scored.
True
In an NHL stat line, a goalie is listed with a 2.35 GAA. What does Goals Against Average (GAA) represent?
Average goals allowed per 60 minutes played
In NHL trivia questions about championships, what is the name of the trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff champion?
Stanley Cup
For a regular-season NHL game, what is the maximum number of skaters (excluding goalies) that a team is allowed to dress?
18
The Presidents' Trophy is awarded to the NHL team that wins the Stanley Cup Final.
False
In official NHL scoring, a secondary assist can still be awarded on a goal even if the defending team clearly gained possession of the puck during the sequence.
False
A coach designing a power play wants one player at the point, three players spread across the middle, and one player near the net-front. Which power-play setup is being described in this NHL trivia scenario?
1-3-1
During a game, your team allows a goal and video on the bench shows the attacking team clearly entered the zone offside just before the goal. Which type of coach's challenge should you request?
Offside leading to a goal
In an advanced stats report for your hockey quiz, a player's Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 is listed as 58%. What does this primarily indicate?
His team gets 58% of all shot attempts while he is on the ice
Your team draws a delayed penalty and pulls the goalie for an extra attacker. Before the referee can blow the whistle, an opponent accidentally shoots the puck into their own empty net. What is the correct ruling?
The goal counts for your team and the penalty is still served
A new fan taking an NHL quiz is confused about what types of infractions can result in a minor penalty. Which of the following actions can be called as a minor penalty? Select all that apply.
Cross-checking an opponent in open ice; Shooting the puck directly over the glass from your own zone; Tripping an opponent with the stick
You are building advanced NHL trivia questions about what counts as a shot on goal. Which of the following situations are recorded as shots on goal? Select all that apply.
A wrist shot from the blue line that the goalie gloves and holds; A backhand attempt that hits the inside of the post and goes in; A wraparound attempt that is stopped by the goalie's pad on the goal line
In a tight playoff game, you are the home coach and want your checking line on the ice every time the opponent's top line comes out after a whistle. Which rule gives you this matchup advantage?
Last change after a whistle for the home team
Two NHL teams finish the regular season tied in points, and you are writing NHL trivia questions about how the standings are broken. According to current rules, which statistic is checked first as a tiebreaker?
Regulation wins
Your team is protecting a one-goal lead with a defensive-zone faceoff in the final minute. Which tactics are typically used by NHL coaches in this situation? Select all that apply.
Use a checking line with a strong faceoff center; Have wingers line up tight to the hash marks to tie up opposing forwards; Win the puck back and quickly clear it off the glass and out
Arrange these key phases of a typical NHL year in the correct chronological order, starting from the earliest and ending with the latest.
Correct order: Preseason exhibition schedule → Regular season games → Conference playoff rounds → Stanley Cup Final → NHL Entry Draft → Free agency signing period
In a data-driven strategy session, your NHL team is down by two goals with 3:30 left and has an offensive-zone faceoff. Which consideration most strongly supports pulling the goalie immediately rather than waiting until about one minute remains?
Extra attacker time remaining has more impact on comeback odds than the risk of an extra empty-net goal
You are managing an NHL roster right up against the salary cap. Which of the following situations still create a cap charge for your team this season? Select all that apply.
A defenseman whose salary you are retaining after trading him to another team; A veteran player your team bought out before the season; A forward you keep as a healthy scratch on the NHL roster

1In standard even-strength play during an NHL game, how many skaters (excluding the goalie) does each team have on the ice?

2In NHL regular-season overtime, teams play 3-on-3 skaters before going to a shootout if no goal is scored.

True / False

3In an NHL stat line, a goalie is listed with a 2.35 GAA. What does Goals Against Average (GAA) represent?

4In NHL trivia questions about championships, what is the name of the trophy awarded annually to the NHL playoff champion?

5For a regular-season NHL game, what is the maximum number of skaters (excluding goalies) that a team is allowed to dress?

6The Presidents' Trophy is awarded to the NHL team that wins the Stanley Cup Final.

True / False

7In official NHL scoring, a secondary assist can still be awarded on a goal even if the defending team clearly gained possession of the puck during the sequence.

True / False

8A coach designing a power play wants one player at the point, three players spread across the middle, and one player near the net-front. Which power-play setup is being described in this NHL trivia scenario?

9During a game, your team allows a goal and video on the bench shows the attacking team clearly entered the zone offside just before the goal. Which type of coach's challenge should you request?

10In an advanced stats report for your hockey quiz, a player's Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 is listed as 58%. What does this primarily indicate?

11Your team draws a delayed penalty and pulls the goalie for an extra attacker. Before the referee can blow the whistle, an opponent accidentally shoots the puck into their own empty net. What is the correct ruling?

12A new fan taking an NHL quiz is confused about what types of infractions can result in a minor penalty. Which of the following actions can be called as a minor penalty? Select all that apply.

Select all that apply

13You are building advanced NHL trivia questions about what counts as a shot on goal. Which of the following situations are recorded as shots on goal? Select all that apply.

Select all that apply

14In a tight playoff game, you are the home coach and want your checking line on the ice every time the opponent's top line comes out after a whistle. Which rule gives you this matchup advantage?

15Two NHL teams finish the regular season tied in points, and you are writing NHL trivia questions about how the standings are broken. According to current rules, which statistic is checked first as a tiebreaker?

16Your team is protecting a one-goal lead with a defensive-zone faceoff in the final minute. Which tactics are typically used by NHL coaches in this situation? Select all that apply.

Select all that apply

17Arrange these key phases of a typical NHL year in the correct chronological order, starting from the earliest and ending with the latest.

Put in order

1NHL Entry Draft

2Preseason exhibition schedule

3Conference playoff rounds

4Free agency signing period

5Stanley Cup Final

6Regular season games

18In a data-driven strategy session, your NHL team is down by two goals with 3:30 left and has an offensive-zone faceoff. Which consideration most strongly supports pulling the goalie immediately rather than waiting until about one minute remains?

19You are managing an NHL roster right up against the salary cap. Which of the following situations still create a cap charge for your team this season? Select all that apply.

Select all that apply

Frequent Errors on NHL Trivia and How to Avoid Them

Common NHL Trivia Pitfalls

Many NHL quiz mistakes come from mixing eras, misreading questions, or guessing based on recent seasons only. Awareness of these patterns helps you slow down and answer with more precision.

Confusing franchise histories: People mix up relocations and expansion. For example, they forget that the Winnipeg Jets and Arizona Coyotes share a franchise history, while the current Jets came from Atlanta. Always ask yourself if the question is about city, nickname, or franchise line.
Ignoring the era in stat questions: All-time records differ from single-season or active-leader stats. Look for cues like “single season,” “career,” or “among active players” before answering.
Mixing trophies and their criteria: Hart, Art Ross, Rocket Richard, Norris, Vezina, and Conn Smythe reward different things. Many players guess a big name rather than matching the award to its description. Mentally pair each trophy with its core idea, such as “most goals” for Rocket Richard.
Overlooking rule changes: Overtime format, shootouts, and points for overtime losses changed over time. If a question references a specific season or decade, base your answer on that period, not the modern rulebook.
Relying on team loyalty instead of facts: Fans often overestimate their own team’s achievements in Cups, playoff streaks, or scoring records. Pause and compare your gut feeling with league-wide context.
Rushing through multi-part wording: Questions that mention both conference and division or specify “postseason only” often trip readers. Scan for qualifiers before locking in an answer.

Reviewing these patterns before your next NHL quiz session will sharpen your focus and reduce avoidable errors.

NHL Trivia Fast Facts and Reference Sheet

How to Use This NHL Cheat Sheet

Print or save this section as a PDF and keep it nearby while you study. It highlights the core facts and patterns that appear in many NHL trivia questions.

Original Six and Expansion Basics

Original Six teams: Montreal Canadiens, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Detroit Red Wings.
Major expansion era: 1967 expansion added six more franchises and started modern growth of the league.
Common trick: Some classic teams like the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins are old, but not Original Six.

Key Individual Awards

Hart Trophy: Most valuable player to his team in the regular season.
Art Ross Trophy: Most points in the regular season.
Rocket Richard Trophy: Most goals in the regular season.
Norris Trophy: Top defenseman.
Vezina Trophy: Top goaltender.
Conn Smythe Trophy: Playoff MVP.

Game and Season Structure

Standard game has three 20 minute periods.
Regular season standings use wins, losses, and overtime or shootout losses.
Playoff series are best of seven, and overtime is sudden death until a goal is scored.

Common Record Themes

Many scoring records cluster around a few players and dynastic teams. Memorize which superstars are known for goals, overall points, or playoff production.
Franchise records often differ sharply from league records. Watch for “franchise leader” in the question.
Streaks and milestones, such as 50 goals or 100 points in a season, appear often in harder trivia.

Review these points regularly so they feel automatic before you tackle harder NHL trivia questions.

Step-by-Step NHL Trivia Question Walkthroughs

Example 1: Franchise Relocation

Question: Which current NHL team previously played as the Quebec Nordiques?

Step 1: Recall which cities lost teams in the 1990s. Quebec City and Winnipeg stand out.

Step 2: Match each to its new location. Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado. Original Winnipeg Jets moved to Arizona.

Step 3: Identify the current name. The former Nordiques became the Colorado Avalanche.

Answer: Colorado Avalanche.

Example 2: Award Criteria

Question: A player led the league in goals but did not have the most points. Which major trophy is he most likely to win?

Step 1: Separate goals from points. Points are goals plus assists.

Step 2: Connect each trophy. Art Ross is most points. Rocket Richard is most goals.

Step 3: The description matches top goal scorer. That aligns with the Rocket Richard Trophy.

Answer: Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.

Example 3: Rule Interpretation

Question: During the regular season, a game is tied after regulation and overtime. Which event decides the winner?

Step 1: Identify that this is regular season, not playoffs. Playoff games continue with extra overtime periods.

Step 2: Recall that modern regular season uses a shootout if still tied after overtime.

Step 3: Connect this to the question prompt about deciding a winner.

Answer: A shootout determines the winner.

Work through NHL trivia in this structured way. Identify the category, match it to core facts, then eliminate distractions from the question wording.

NHL Quiz and Hockey Trivia Practice FAQ

Common Questions About This NHL Quiz

What topics does this NHL quiz focus on?

The quiz covers franchise history, relocations, and expansion teams, along with rules, penalties, overtime formats, major trophies, legendary players, scoring and goaltending records, and Stanley Cup milestones. Expect a mix of classic history and modern era questions.

How hard are the NHL trivia questions?

The difficulty is set for intermediate fans. You should recognize team names, major stars, and basic rules already. Some questions dig into specific records, award winners, or older franchises to challenge anyone who wants more than simple multiple choice fan trivia.

How can I prepare before trying the harder NHL questions?

Review Original Six teams, major trophy names and criteria, basic rule structure, and a short list of record holders for points, goals, wins, and Cups. A quick pass through recent Stanley Cup champions and famous dynasties gives a strong base before attempting harder items.

Does knowledge of older NHL eras matter on this quiz?

Yes. Many questions compare eras or reference classic teams and players. Understanding expansion, relocations, and long-standing records will help, even if you follow the modern league more closely.

How should I use this quiz to improve my hockey trivia skills?

Take the quiz once in any mode, then review every incorrect answer and identify why you missed it. Look for patterns such as awards, rules, or specific decades. Study those gaps using the cheat sheet, then retake a mode with 13, 19, or 26 questions to confirm progress.