A Guide to Hockey Statistics (2024)

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Sports & Athletics

The National Hockey League stats sheet can be confusing for new fans. Some codes are obvious—most fans can guess what a "G" or an "A" indicates. But "SPCT" is probably a mystery to those who are new to the game. Statistics such as a goalie's save percentage or goals-against average can also be confusing. These and other abbreviations are all explained below.

Forwards and Defensem*n

Forwards and defensem*n—that is, all of the players who are not goaltenders—have their own set of statistics and acronyms. Even the specific positions they play are denoted by a one- or two-letter acronym:

• POS: Player position. The positions are C (center), LW (left wing), RW (right wing), D (defense), and G (goaltender).
• NO: Player jersey number
• GP: Games played
• G: Goals. A goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring team to touch the puck prior to the puck entering the net.
• A: Assists. An assist is awarded to the player or players (maximum of two) who touch the puck prior to the goal, provided no defender plays or possesses the puck in between.
• P or PTS: Points; the sum total of goals and assists
• +/-: Plus or minus
• PIM:Penalty infraction minutes
• PP: Power play goals
• SH:Short-handed goals
• GW: Game-winning goals. After the final score has been determined, the goal that leaves the winning team one goal ahead of its opponent is the game-winning goal.
• S:Shots on goal. If a player shoots the puck with the intention of scoring and if that shot would have gone in the net had the goaltender not stopped it, the shot is recorded as a shot on goal.
• PCT or SPCT:Shooting percentage. This is calculated by dividing the number of goals a player has scored by the number of shots they have taken.
• ESP:Points scored at even strength
• SHP:Points scored while short-handed
• PPP:Points scored on thepower play
• HmP:Points scored on home ice
• RdP:Points scored on the road
• DvP:Points scored against teams within a division
• ODvP:Points scored against teams outside a division
• P/G:Average points scored per game
• SHFT: Average number of shifts per game
• ATOI:Average time on ice per game
• FW: Faceoffs won
• FL: Faceoffs lost
• FWP or FWPCT: Percentage of faceoffs won

Goaltenders

Goaltenders have their own set of abbreviations and statistics. Here are the ones most commonly used to evaluate a goalie's performance:

• GP: Games played
• W: Wins. A goaltender receives a win if he is on the ice when his team scores the game-winning goal.
• L: Losses. A goaltender receives a loss if he is on the ice when the opposing team scores the game-winning goal.
• T: Ties. A goaltender receives a tie if he is on the ice when the game-tying goal is scored.
• OT: Overtime orshootoutlosses
• GA: Goals against. Empty-net goalsdo not count toward a goaltender's goals against.
• SA: Shots against
• GAA: Goals-against average
• S: Saves
• SV PCTorSV%: Save percentage
• SO: Shutouts. If two goaltenders combine for a shutout, neither receives credit for the shutout.Instead,it is recorded as a team shutout. If a regular season game is tied 0-0 at the end of overtime, both goaltenders are credited with a shutout regardless of how many goals are scored in the shootout.
• PIM: Penalty infraction minutes