What Is A 5 On 3 In Hockey?
A 5 on 3 in hockey is a situation when one team has all players on the roster. But two players from the opponent side are unavailable due to penalties.
In simple words, two players of a team have been penalized for a certain period for violating the rules. And the other team has full strength on the ice.
The ice skater can receive the sanction anytime if he violates the rule. A minor penalty keeps him in the sin box for two minutes, while the major expands the punishment time to five minutes.
Causes like butt-ending hockey, slashing, boarding, hockey fighting, and icing can result in a penalty. Eventually, the team serving a penalty plays a man down for the time limit.
The opponent team, or the team with all five players excluding the goalie, now has the advantage in numbers, known as a "powerplay."
The lineman holds the authority to create the situation by punishing the players who break the rule intentionally or unintentionally.