What’s the most important period in a hockey game? The 1st? The 3rd?

According to Bethany Brausen, Head Coach of the University of St. Thomas (Minnesota), there’s a strong case to be made for the 2nd period — and not enough coaches are paying attention, she explained presenting at the 2025 IIHF Coaching Symposium.

In a poll Brausen conducted with coaches, 50% believed the 3rd period carried the most weight. Another 30% picked the 1st. Only 20% said the 2nd. And yet, as Brausen explained, the 2nd period consistently has a massive impact on the outcome of a game, especially at the elite level.

Why? One key reason: the long change.

“Players are changing every minute in a game. Good changes are crucial to team success.”
– Brausen

The 2nd Period Surge

In the 1st and 3rd periods, teams have their defensive zone close to the bench — which makes for easier changes, even under pressure. But in the 2nd period, that changes. With the long change in effect, defending teams find themselves stuck in their own zone more often, forced to defend longer shifts due to difficult line changes.

Brausen pointed to NHL data from the 2023–2024 season:

• 1st period goals: 2,349

• 2nd period goals: 2,752

• 3rd period goals: 2,349 (excluding empty netters)

More goals in the 2nd period. More shots. More assists. More power plays. Why?

Shift lengths increase. Zone exits decrease. Tired players make tired plays — and the consequences stack up quickly.

Coaching to the Moment

Brausen challenged coaches to rethink how they prepare for and manage the 2nd period. If it consistently creates more scoring opportunities for both teams how do we prepare to capitalize, not collapse?

Her answer: build around two key components.

1. The Mental Component

• Engagement: Coaches must create clear expectations and a positive environment so players stay mentally sharp when pressure rises.

• Team Identity: Use the 2nd period as a rallying point. What do you want your team to be known for in this phase of the game?

• Bench Management: Make line changes early. Stay proactive. If players are expected to be at their best, coaches must lead the way with sharp, timely decisions.

2. The Physical Component

• Conditioning: Incorporate skating intensity and endurance-building into regular drills. Players need gas in the tank.

• Tactical Skills: Emphasize zone exits and playing under pressure — especially when tired.

• Practice Design: Be intentional. Build reps that simulate second-period situations: long changes, extended D-zone time, and recovery under duress.

Final Thoughts

The long change isn’t just a structural quirk of hockey — it’s a game-shaping dynamic that smart coaches can use to their advantage. By preparing players physically and mentally for the unique challenges of the 2nd period, teams can turn a common pitfall into a strategic edge.

About the Coach

Bethany Brausen is the Head Coach of the University of St. Thomas women’s hockey team in Minnesota. A former captain at the University of Minnesota, Brausen brings a wealth of high-performance experience both as a player and a coach. Her emphasis on team identity, tactical discipline, and intelligent bench management makes her a leading voice in modern hockey coaching.

Noteworthy Timestamps:

• 0:45 Introduction
• 2:55 What is the most important period in hockey?
• 5:45 The Significant Second
• 7:50 Why does it exist?
• 11:30 The Long Change Effect/Why you should care
• 17:10 Going beyond goals
• 19:15 LCE in the NCAA
• 22:35 What do you do about it?
• 25:00 Mental Component -  Engagement and focus
• 28:55 Team identity
• 30:40 Bench management
• 34:15 Physical Component - Conditioning
• 36:05 Finite skills
• 38:55 Practice/systems preparation 
• 41:15 Drill ideas