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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Save percentage (SV%) measures the share of shots a goalie stops, goals-against average (GAA) measures goals allowed per 60 minutes, and a shutout (SO) records a game in which the opposing team is held scoreless. They describe different things, so compare them over the same season and game type rather than treating any one as a complete measure of a goalie.
What does save percentage (SV%) mean?
Save percentage is saves divided by shots faced. The NHL’s glossary defines it as “Save percentage is determined by dividing saves by shots faced.” It is commonly displayed as a decimal: .910 means the goalie stopped 91.0% of the shots faced.
Arithmetic illustration: A goalie who stops 27 of 30 shots has an SV% of 27 ÷ 30 = .900, or 90.0%. This is an example, not a reported NHL result.
What does goals-against average (GAA) mean?
GAA is goals allowed multiplied by 60 and divided by minutes played. In the NHL glossary’s wording, “Multiply goals allowed (GA) by 60 and divide by minutes played (MIN).” The result is a rate: goals allowed per 60 minutes of goalie playing time.
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Arithmetic illustration: If a goalie allows 2 goals in 60 minutes, the GAA is 2 × 60 ÷ 60 = 2.00. With a shorter appearance, the same formula scales the goals allowed to a 60-minute rate.
Individual goalie GAA is not the same as a team’s goals-against total or per-game figure. A team total can include goals allowed while another goalie was playing, as well as empty-net goals.
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What counts as a shutout?
A shutout means the opposing team scores no goals in the game. It is a count of scoreless games, not a rate like SV% or GAA.
There is a specific NHL crediting rule when goalies share the work: if two goaltenders combine for a shutout, the NHL records a club shutout, and neither goalie receives individual credit. The NHL glossary states: “If two goaltenders combine for a shutout, neither receives credit for the shutout. Instead it is recorded as a Club shutout.”
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How are SV%, GAA, and shutouts different?
| Stat | What it counts | Denominator or basis | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| SV% | Saves relative to shots faced | Shots faced | Higher means a larger share of faced shots were stopped. |
| GAA | Goals allowed scaled to a 60-minute rate | Minutes played | Lower means fewer goals allowed per 60 minutes. |
| SO | Games in which the opponent was held scoreless | Games, not shots or minutes | A goalie’s individual total excludes a shared shutout credited to the club. |
SV% is shot-based, while GAA is time-based; shutouts count outcomes. Because their bases differ, they can tell different stories about a goalie’s results. None, on its own, isolates the goalie from team defense or the nature of the shots faced. An NHL.com/Seattle Kraken analysis discusses the limits of commonly available goalie measures and the importance of shot context.
How should you compare goalie stats?
- Match the period and game type. Make sure the figures cover the same season and competition—for example, regular season versus playoffs.
- Check sample size and playing time. A short run of games is not directly equivalent to a full season; GAA is normalized by minutes, but the number of minutes still matters when judging how representative a figure is.
- Read the stats together. SV% describes stops per shot, GAA describes goals per 60 minutes, and shutouts capture scoreless games. Consider team and shot context rather than drawing a conclusion from one number.
For current figures, use the NHL stats interface and confirm the season, game type, and whether the view is by season or game. Its views include categories such as SV%, GAA, and shutouts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Historical figures are not current benchmarks
In a December 16, 2019 NHL.com article, the league cited .915 as the league-average save percentage in 2015–16 and .910 through 483 games of the season underway at the time. Those are historical figures used in explaining a then-new NHL.com statistic, not present-day league averages.
A related distinction: the NHL’s April 19, 2024 account of the William M. Jennings Trophy described its criterion as goaltenders playing at least 25 games for the regular-season team allowing the fewest goals. That is a team-level award criterion, not an individual SV% or GAA measure.
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