What is a Power Play? Lay Explained in 2 minutes
David Genge Last Verified
20/04/2026
In ice-hockey, a power play is when an at least one opposing team member is serving a penalty, thus leaving the other team with a numerical advantage. The team with the numerical advantage is therefore on a power play. If both teams have members serving penalties and neither team has an advantage then there is no power play.
How are power plays used in Betting?
Most hockey bookmakers will allow you to place a bet which player or players will score a power play goal. They may offer it in the form of "Player X" to score over or under 0.5 power play goals. You can then bet whether or not you think that player will score under, in this case zero power play goals, or over, one or more power play goals.
Power plays, and power play goals are not uncommon in ice hockey. However, it can be hard to bet on which player will score a power play goal on a given night. However, by studying different teams, matchups, and players you can increase your chances. great place to do that research is within our hokcey betting strategies page.
Did you know?
Mario Lemieux has the most power play goals in a season with 80. He accomplished this feat during the 1987-88 season. The person with the second most power play goals in a season in Mario Lemieux with 79 in 1995-96, tied with Mario Lemieux who also scored 79 in 1988-89. In fourth place is Mario Lemieux who scored 66 power play goals in 1985-86.
