What is a powerplay in hockey?

A power play occurs in hockey when one team has at least one player serving a penalty and this causes the other team to have a man advantage. In the NHL and a number of other leagues, the length of a power play is a minimum of two minutes.

Most hockey leagues make a distinction between minor and major penalties, which can create different power play lengths. A minor infraction results in a two-minute power play, and the power play can end early if the team with the advantage scores. A major infraction carries a power play of five minutes, and a score does not end it early.