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NHL Trivia Questions (Easy) + Answers

These easy NHL trivia questions are perfect for casual fans, bar trivia warm-ups, or anyone just getting into hockey. The questions cover basic rules, famous players, team logos, and simple records that every hockey fan should know.

January 24, 2026

Teams & Logos

Q: How many players per team (including goalie) are on the ice during standard 5-on-5 play? A: Six players per team: five skaters and one goaltender.

Q: What does "NHL" stand for? A: National Hockey League.

Q: Which Canadian city is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs? A: Toronto, Ontario.

Q: Which NHL team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden? A: The New York Rangers.

Q: What animal appears on the logo of the San Jose Sharks? A: A shark biting a hockey stick.

Q: Which team is known as "The Habs"? A: The Montreal Canadiens. The nickname comes from "Les Habitants," the French term for the original settlers of Quebec.

Q: How many teams are currently in the NHL? A: 32 teams.

Q: Which city has two NHL teams? A: New York (Rangers and Islanders) and Los Angeles (Kings and Ducks in nearby Anaheim).

Q: What colors are the Boston Bruins' jerseys? A: Black and gold (yellow).

Q: Which NHL team plays at TD Garden? A: The Boston Bruins.

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Players & Positions

Q: Which position is primarily responsible for stopping shots and protecting the net? A: Goaltender (goalie).

Q: What is the term for a player who can take faceoffs and often plays in the middle of the ice? A: Center.

Q: Which famous NHL player wore the number 99? A: Wayne Gretzky.

Q: What is it called when a player scores three goals in one game? A: A hat trick.

Q: Which player is usually the team's on-ice leader and wears a "C" on their jersey? A: The captain.

Q: What letter does an alternate captain wear on their jersey? A: An "A" for alternate (or assistant) captain.

Q: Which position typically plays on the left or right side of the ice? A: Winger (left wing or right wing).

Q: What do you call the two positions that play on the blue line? A: Defensemen (left defense and right defense).

Q: Which player position is allowed to use a different shaped stick? A: Goaltender. Goalie sticks are wider to help block shots.

Q: What is it called when a player records a goal and an assist in the same game? A: A multi-point game (specifically one goal and one assist equals two points).

Records & Awards (Easy)

Q: Which trophy is awarded to the NHL's most valuable player in the regular season? A: The Hart Memorial Trophy.

Q: What is the name of the championship trophy awarded at the end of the NHL playoffs? A: The Stanley Cup.

Q: Which team has won the most Stanley Cups? A: The Montreal Canadiens with 24 championships.

Q: What is the name of the trophy for the NHL's top goaltender each season? A: The Vezina Trophy.

Q: Which NHL great is nicknamed "The Great One"? A: Wayne Gretzky.

Q: What trophy is awarded to the NHL's best defenseman? A: The James Norris Memorial Trophy (Norris Trophy).

Q: Which award goes to the NHL's top rookie? A: The Calder Memorial Trophy.

Q: What is the name of the trophy for the playoff MVP? A: The Conn Smythe Trophy.

Q: Which trophy is awarded to the team with the best regular-season record? A: The Presidents' Trophy.

Q: Who is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer? A: Wayne Gretzky with 894 goals.

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Playoff & Rule Basics

Q: How many periods are played in a standard NHL game (not including overtime)? A: Three periods of 20 minutes each.

Q: What is it called when one team has more players on the ice because an opponent took a penalty? A: A power play.

Q: How many points does a team earn for a win in the regular season standings? A: Two points.

Q: What do you call the shot used to decide regular-season games after overtime if the score is still tied? A: A shootout attempt (in the shootout).

Q: What is the term for when an offensive player crosses the blue line into the attacking zone before the puck? A: Offside.

Q: How long is a minor penalty in hockey? A: Two minutes.

Q: What is it called when a team pulls their goalie for an extra attacker? A: An empty net situation (pulling the goalie).

Q: How many games are in an NHL regular season? A: 82 games per team.

Q: What is icing in hockey? A: When a player shoots the puck from behind the center red line all the way down past the opposing goal line without it being touched.

Q: How many playoff rounds must a team win to claim the Stanley Cup? A: Four rounds (best-of-seven series each).

Why Easy Trivia Matters

Easy NHL trivia questions help new fans learn the basics while giving experienced fans a confidence boost. These questions cover the foundational knowledge every hockey fan picks up naturally by watching games, making them perfect for casual bar trivia nights or family game competitions.

Using Trivia to Learn Hockey

The best way to learn hockey is through a combination of watching games and testing your knowledge with trivia. Easy questions like these reinforce basic concepts (positions, penalties, scoring) that help you understand what you're seeing on the ice.

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