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).
When a penalty expires and the team will still be short-handed (another penalty is still serving or others are waiting to return), the player may return to the ice immediately during continuous play. No stoppage is required because the team remains at a disadvantage.
When a penalty expires and the team would return to full strength (5 skaters), the player MUST wait for a stoppage in play to return to the ice. This prevents teams from gaining an advantage by returning to full strength during play. At the next stoppage after their penalty expires, they may return.
During continuous play, only one player can return at a time, even if multiple penalties expire at the same moment. If multiple penalties have expired, players return in the order their penalties expired (first expired, first returned). Exception: At a stoppage, all players whose penalties have expired may return simultaneously.