"Last minute of play in the period."
There are a few variations of those famous words, but those final 60 seconds in a tied hockey game can be frantic. Both sides attempt to walk that fine line between finding a win and not losing before overtime begins. But once overtime is imminent, Twitter lights up like fireworks in the sky on a hot summer night.
#BucciOvertimeChallenge.
Countless tweets can be seen with the hashtag as fans rush to the social media site to get their predictions out in the world. It's free to play and fun to be right — making for the perfect combination in a society that demands attention online.
The contest was designed by ESPN's John Buccigross to give hockey fans — and sometimes players — a chance to talk about the game in one place. Twitter, a site that is fast-paced and built on opinions, was the perfect home for it. Consistently one of the top Twitter trends whenever a game reaches the extra session, the contest elevates the NHL, and sometimes college hockey, into a national discussion.
After all, if it trends on Twitter, it cannot be ignored.
Fans of the teams involved — especially during the playoffs — start sweating profusely or watch their blood pressure climb with the outcome hanging in the balance. For everyone else, they just hope that one of those two players they selected can find the back of the net.
MORE: How does overtime work in the NHL playoffs?
The Sporting News takes a look at the hashtag that brings hockey fans together every time an NHL game goes to overtime.
What is the Bucci Overtime Challenge?
Once the final buzzer sounds and the broadcast heads to commercial – it's on. The Bucci Overtime Challenge is now in effect, once the tweet from his account is sent out. Buccigross will put down his beloved chicken parmesan and get ready for the mayhem to begin.
#bucciovertimechallenge #16..@MapleLeafs / @FlaPanthers..one player each team, spell correctly..on TBS pic.twitter.com/QcT6QS98Hu
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 8, 2023
The game is simply picking a player from each team to score the goal that breaks the tie and sends one team home victorious.
When did the Bucci Overtime Challenge start?
The contest started on Twitter in 2011 and has since developed into a rallying cry for hockey fans, a brand for Buccigross and a charity that aims to benefit those involved in the sport.
Buccigross has said in multiple interviews about the contest that it was born from a game he used to play with Ray Ferraro and Barry Melrose on the old ESPN hockey-themed show, "NHL 2night."
MORE: What are the longest overtime games in NHL playoff history?
Bucci Overtime Challenge rules
The rules for Buccigross' contest are rather straightforward. If the two teams are tied after 60 minutes, they head to overtime. From there, Buccigross will typically tweet that the contest is open and that's where the fun, or madness, begins.
Pick two players — one from each team — and use the hashtag "#bucciovertimechallenge."
At that point, you are entered and ready to enjoy the extra action. If one of your selected players scores the game-winning goal, Buccigross will then randomly select winners from those that made the correct prediction in order to send a prize — and bragging rights — their way.
What do Bucci Overtime Challenge winners get?
For starters, those bragging rights can be a big deal. Unless there is an injury or an ejection, then there are 36 realistic options for fans to pick from — 12 forwards and six defensemen for each team. The goalies can score too, but those are awfully rare even when the other side has an empty net.
Using simple math, it can be determined that each skater has a 2.8 percent chance of scoring the game-winning goal, though some will have slightly better odds of doing so when considering their ice time, goal-scoring ability and other factors.
But either way, the odds aren't in your favor even for this free-to-play contest.
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In addition to an inflated ego, Buccigross randomly selects from the people with correct predictions and sends them some #BucciOvertimeChallenge branded merchandise.
Thanks for playing #bucciovertimechallenge..it’s fun to connect with you all through a love of hockey. And thanks for buying stuff at https://t.co/sCULBRMazP..We recently gave $12,000 to the @TheRealCally24 Foundation with help from your purchases & my daily post office trips! 🙏🏻 pic.twitter.com/3yXuvvyJXe
— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) May 1, 2023
Merchandise is also available for purchase on Buccigross' website, BucciOT.com — where the profits are donated to charity.
