What is NHL's 5-minute major penalty? Explaining the infraction based on the league rulebook 

According to the NHL rulebook, a five-minute major penalty is a severe penalty for serious infractions. When a player commits this kind of penalty, they have to spend five minutes in the penalty box, and their team must play shorthanded for that duration of time.

So when does this penalty occur? It mostly happens due to acts like high-sticking, fighting and other kinds of dangerous plays that can result in injury for an opponent.

Moreover, it should be noted that a team that has been penalized with a five-minute major penalty cannot replace the penalized player until the full five minutes have elapsed in the penalty box, even if the opposing team scores several goals during that time.

Additionally, further penalties may be incurred for actions that would otherwise only attract minor penalty calls when they become highly intense or malicious with the intent to cause harm to other players.

That implies that if it is serious or intentional to hurt someone, an offense, which may lead to a minor penalty under normal circumstances, can result in a major one by the officials.

NHL players with the most 5-minute major career penalties

#1. Tie Domi - 273

The record for the most five-minute major career penalties in the NHL currently belongs to former Toronto Maple Leafs winger and enforcer Tie Domi.

He had a 16-year career in the league and played for 1,020 games. During that time, Domi was hit with a five-minute major penalty a whopping 273 times. Moreover, he clocked 3,515 penalty minutes in his career.

#2. Craig Berube - 251

Craig Berube is second on the list with the most career major penalties (251). The current Maple Leafs coach had a long 17-year NHL career and registered 251 five-minute major penalties during that time, combined with 3,149 penalty minutes.

#3. Tiger Williams - 249

Meanwhile, Tiger Williams has registered the NHL's third-most five-minute major penalties. Williams was assessed a five-minute major penalty 249 times, combined with 3,971 penalty minutes over the course of his 14-year career.