1. What is NHL Save Percentage?

Save Percentage (Save%) is a statistic in ice hockey that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops. It's a key metric for evaluating goaltender performance in the NHL and other hockey leagues.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( saves \) — Number of shots successfully stopped by the goaltender
• \( shots \) — Total number of shots faced by the goaltender

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of total shots were saved by the goaltender.

3. Importance of Save Percentage

Details: Save percentage is one of the most important statistics for evaluating goaltender performance. A higher save percentage indicates better performance. NHL goaltenders typically have save percentages between .900 and .930.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of saves and total shots faced. Both values must be positive integers, and saves cannot exceed shots.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is considered a good save percentage in the NHL?
A: Generally, .915 or above is considered good, .920+ is excellent, and anything below .900 is poor for an NHL goaltender.

Q2: Does save percentage account for shot quality?
A: No, basic save percentage treats all shots equally. Advanced metrics like "high-danger save percentage" account for shot quality.

Q3: How does save percentage relate to goals against average (GAA)?
A: While GAA depends on team defense, save percentage is considered a more direct measure of goaltender performance.

Q4: What's the highest single-season save percentage in NHL history?
A: As of 2023, the record is .942 by Tim Thomas in the 2010-11 season (minimum 25 games played).

Q5: Why do some goalies have save percentages above 1.000?
A: This is impossible in the standard calculation. You may be thinking of percentages displayed as decimals (.950) rather than percentages (95.0%).