The freshly resurfaced ice must be available 40 minutes prior to opening face-off. The ice must also be resurfaced before the game begins, during the intermissions and in playoff games with endless overtime before each extension of the game.

The ice resurfacing must be completed at least four minutes before the next playing period starts to allow proper freezing and set-up of the ice.

At the end of regular playing time the ice surface will not be cleaned for overtime or shootouts.

If, prior to or during the playing of a game, any section of the ice or rink becomes damaged, the on-ice officials will immediately stop the game and ensure the necessary repairs are made before game action resumes.

If the repairs delay the game unduly, the referee has the option to send the teams to their respective dressing rooms until the rink is deemed fit to play. If the problem cannot be solved in a short period of time or if any section of the ice or rink is of a quality that makes playing the game dangerous, the referee has the right to postpone the game until such a time as the ice or rink can be properly made fit to play.

If any lengthy delay occurs within ten minutes of the end of a period, the referee has the option to send the teams to their respective dressing rooms to begin the intermission immediately. The rest of the period will be played after the repairs and resurfacing of the ice has been completed and the full intermission time has elapsed. When play resumes, teams will defend the same goal as before play was postponed, and at the end of the period they will change ends and begin playing the ensuing period without delay.