Okay kiddo, so you know how there are four quarters in a basketball game? Well, in hockey, there are three parts called periods! The third period is the very last part of the game.
During the third period, the teams on the ice have less time to score goals and win the game. They have to be careful because if they make a mistake, it could cost them the game.
The players might be getting tired at this point because they've been skating hard for almost an hour. They might be breathing hard, and their legs could feel like they're made of Jell-O. That's why they have to push themselves and keep going until the very end.
The third period can be really exciting because the teams might be tied, and whoever scores the next goal will win the game! The players will be trying their hardest to get that puck in the other team's net, and the fans in the arena will be cheering them on!
So, that's what the third period is all about, buddy! It's the last chance for the teams to win, and it can be super intense and exciting!