What is the maximum penalty duration in the NHL?

In the NHL, the maximum penalty duration is five minutes. This type of penalty is typically called a major penalty, which is assessed for more serious infractions, such as fighting or checking from behind. During a major penalty, the penalized player must serve the entirety of the five minutes, regardless of how many goals are scored by the opposing team during that time. This duration allows officials to address the severity of the offense and maintain player safety on the ice.

While there are two-minute minor penalties for less severe infractions and ten-minute misconduct penalties, only the five-minute major penalties are designated as the maximum duration for a single infraction within a game.