Sports Forensics learning guide
Read a goalie percentage with its shot count
By Lou · Sports Forensics editorial · October 21, 2026
Evergreen educational guide. All numerical examples below are hypothetical; they are not current player or team reports.
Keep the count beside the rate
Save percentage relates saves to shots faced. The NHL glossary provides the official definition. A single-game percentage can move considerably after one shot, so display the underlying counts rather than discussing the decimal in isolation.
Worked example: invented numbers
Goalie A stops 27 of 30 shots: 27 ÷ 30 = .900. Goalie B stops 18 of 20: 18 ÷ 20 = .900. Their percentages match, but the workloads differ. If each then faces one additional shot and allows a goal, A becomes 27 ÷ 31, about .871, while B becomes 18 ÷ 21, about .857.
What that does and does not establish
The arithmetic shows how one event affects samples of different sizes. It does not establish that either goalie faced equally difficult chances or played better. Shot location, traffic, defensive breakdowns and strength situation require additional information.
Separate situations before comparing
When possible, examine even-strength and penalty-kill situations separately. Check whether the table describes a single game, a season or a selected interval. Avoid treating a team-level result as if it measured only the goalie’s contribution.
A useful follow-up question
If a percentage changes, first ask how many shots are behind it and whether the mix of situations changed. A longer sample can add context without removing every difference in the chances faced.
Official references
These references support statistical terminology and scoring conventions. The examples and interpretations are our own. League names identify the sport covered and do not imply affiliation or endorsement.
Questions or corrections? Contact Lou. Read our method for how evidence, interpretation and corrections are separated.