A team can have no more than 2 players serving penalties simultaneously. When penalties are serving, the team plays short-handed (minimum 3 skaters on ice). If a third penalty is called while 2 are already serving, it becomes a delayed penalty.
A delayed penalty begins serving as soon as one of the two active penalties expires. The delayed player immediately starts their penalty time at that moment. Delayed penalties are tracked in the order they were called (first in, first out).
If a team is short-handed by 2 penalties or less, players can return to the ice as soon as their penalties expire during continuous play. No stoppage is required - when your time is served, you can step back on the ice immediately.
Players form a queue in the order their penalties expire (earliest expiry first). When a slot opens (team can add a skater), the first person in the queue returns during continuous play.
A slot opens when: A serving penalty ends AND no delayed penalty takes its place.
Example: 99 expires at 8:00 (33 takes slot), 66 expires at 7:00 (slot opens → 99 returns), 33 expires at 6:00 (slot opens → 66 returns). 33 must wait for stoppage.
At a stoppage in play, all players whose penalties have expired may return to the ice simultaneously. This is how players who couldn't return during continuous play (due to the one-at-a-time rule) get back on the ice.
Training guide for delayed penalty situations