How does the regular-season shootout work?

If a regular-season game is still tied after the five-minute overtime period, the teams go to a shootout, run under the penalty shot rules (Rule 24).

• The ice is shovelled first. The home team chooses whether to shoot first or second, and teams alternate shots.
• Each team takes five shots unless the outcome is decided earlier. If still tied after five each, it becomes sudden death.
• The coach selects the shooters. All players are eligible unless serving a ten-minute misconduct or assessed a game misconduct or match penalty.
• Once the shootout begins, the goalkeeper cannot be replaced unless injured.
• The winning team is recorded as winning by one goal, based on the score at the end of overtime. The shootout goal is not credited to the scorer's personal statistics, and the losing goalkeeper is not charged with the extra goal.

Source: PWHL Official Rulebook 2025-26, Rule 86.4.