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Statistics can tell us a lot about what happens on the ice, including which players are performing at their best and which are having a bad time. Coaches can use this information to change their tactics, and NHL betting also relies on stats for setting lines and helping bettors make their picks. In this article, we’ll be looking at the most common hockey stats and what they mean.

Team Stats

Most team stats are self explanatory, but some are a little more complicated. These statistics are used to show how well a team is performing or to highlight weaknesses in their offense or defense. Here are a few of the most common that you’ll likely see referenced online or when watching games:

• GP – The games a team has played

• W – The number of wins a team has

• L – How many losses a team has

• OT – The number of overtime and shootout losses a team has

• P% - The percentage of available points won in games

• RW – The number of regulation wins. Used as a tiebreaker

• GF – Goals scored

• GA – Goals conceded

Player and Goalie Stats

Players and goalies are often rated based on their statistics. While these don’t always tell the whole story of what’s happening, they’re normally a good indicator of performance. The best players will generally always set higher standards with their statistics. Here are some of the most commonly used player and goalie stats:

• GP – The number of games the player has played

• GS – The number of games the player has started

• G – The number of goals a player has scored

• A – The number of assists a player has

• P – The number of points a player has scored

• +/- - The number of times a player is on the ice when their team scores versus the number of times they’re on the ice when their opponent scores

• SA – The number of shots the goalie has had to face

• Sv – The number of saves the goalie has made

• Sv% - The percentage of shots faced that were saved

Advanced Statistics

Basic stats are good for giving an indicator of how a team or player is performing. However, they don’t always account for every situation and can sometimes be unfair. Advanced statistics help to give a better and more balanced view of what’s happening on the ice. Here are some of the most common:

Corsi

Corsi is similar to the +/- statistic which measures the number of goals scored vs conceded when a player is on the ice. However, this stat specifically looks at the number of shots rather than goals. This gives a better idea of a player’s offensive and defensive impact as there will be a larger number of shots and therefore it creates a more reliable dataset.

PDO

This statistic looks at a team’s shooting and save percentages. It adds the two numbers together to show how lucky or unlucky a team is. Basically, a team with a very high shooting and save percentage will generally be lucky. Although results might be going their way, they could struggle to win games when the luck turns against them.

Expected Goals

Expected goals takes a closer look at shots taken and measures them based on how dangerous they are. The location and situation of the shot all factor into the equation and create a statistic that tells you far more about the game than just looking at the total number of shots.