Compare NHL goalies in the same season and game type, then read save percentage (SV%) and goals-against average (GAA) alongside games started, minutes played, and shots faced. SV% shows the share of shots stopped; GAA shows goals allowed per 60 minutes. Neither rate alone accounts for shot difficulty or team defense.
Start with a fair comparison
Use the same season, game type, and date range for each goalie. Regular-season and playoff statistics should not be mixed. Also note how much of the season each player has played: a rate built from a few appearances is not directly comparable to a full-season rate without that qualification.
On the NHL goalie statistics page, use the season and game-type filters to set the comparison. The NHL’s statistics interface also offers historical, season, and game-by-game views.
Understand what SV% and GAA measure
| Statistic | How it is calculated | How to read it |
|---|---|---|
| Save percentage (SV%) | Saves divided by shots faced | A higher value means a larger share of the shots faced were stopped. |
| Goals-against average (GAA) | Goals allowed multiplied by 60, divided by minutes played | A lower value means fewer goals allowed per 60 minutes. |
These are different views of results, not interchangeable measures. SV% uses shots faced as its denominator; GAA uses playing time and standardizes the rate to 60 minutes. GAA does not mean goals allowed per game. The NHL provides these definitions in its hockey glossary.
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Put the rates beside workload
Check the workload fields shown with the rates on the NHL goalie statistics page:
- Games played (GP): appearances, including starts and relief appearances.
- Games started (GS): how often the goalie began a game.
- Shots against (SA) and saves: the volume behind the save percentage.
- Time on ice (TOI): playing time behind the GAA.
GP and GS are not the same: a goalie can appear in relief without starting. Starts, minutes, and shots describe different aspects of use, so consider them together rather than treating any one count as a complete workload measure. The NHL describes its goalie statistics as distinguishing starts from relief appearances in its statistics-page redesign article.
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Account for shot quality and team context
A goalie’s rates reflect the shots faced as well as the saves made. Shot location, type, angle, rush context, and pre-shot movement can help explain why two goalies with similar shot totals faced different challenges. Defensive support and the circumstances surrounding a save also matter.
Some analysts use expected-goal models to assign values to shots based on details such as location and game state. These estimates can add context to the shot mix, but models differ and do not encode every read, decision, or defensive action. Alison Lukan’s Seattle Kraken/NHL.com overview of goalie analytics describes this approach; an NHL feature on elite goalies and the limits of statistics discusses additional contextual factors.
Use the metrics as a comparison, not a verdict
| Comparison question | Useful fields | What they can show | What they cannot establish alone |
|---|---|---|---|
| What share of shots did the goalie stop? | SV% | Shot-stopping results relative to shots faced | Whether those shots were easy or difficult |
| How many goals were allowed per standard playing time? | GAA, TOI | Goals against normalized to 60 minutes | How much of the result came from shot quality or team defense |
| How much and what kind of opportunity did the goalie receive? | GS, GP, SA, TOI | Starting or relief role and volume of play | Fatigue, rebound difficulty, traffic, or defensive quality directly |
| Did the goalies face different shot mixes? | Expected-goal or shot-location context, when available | Potential differences in shot difficulty | A complete account of every save circumstance; models vary |
Higher SV% and lower GAA are favorable when each statistic is considered on its own. For a broader assessment, compare both rates within the same period and game type, examine their underlying workload, and use shot context where available. Do not treat either rate as proof that one goalie is better independent of sample size, shot mix, and team environment.
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