Save percentage
A goalkeeper’s save percentage is the share of shots on goal they stop:
Save percentage = saves ÷ shots on goal = (shots − goals) ÷ shots
Only shots on target count; shots that miss the net or are blocked by skaters or defenders are excluded. In hockey it is written as a decimal (.915); in soccer and handball as a percentage.
Goals against average
GAA = goals allowed × game length ÷ minutes played
The game length is 60 minutes in hockey and handball and 90 in soccer. GAA depends heavily on the team’s defense, so save percentage is the better measure of the goalkeeper alone.
Example
A hockey goalie faces 30 shots in 60 minutes and allows 2 goals: 28 saves, a .933 save percentage and a 2.00 GAA, a strong night.
Benchmarks by sport
| Sport | Typical average | Excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Ice hockey (NHL) | about .900 | .915 and up |
| Soccer (top leagues) | about 70% | 75% and up |
| Handball (elite leagues) | about 29 to 32% | 35% and up |
Averages differ because of shot distance and difficulty: handball shots are taken from a few meters, while soccer shots often come from outside the box.
Limits
- Not all shots are equal. Advanced stats such as goals saved above expected (GSAx) weight each shot by its scoring chance.
- Small samples are noisy: a single game or a few weeks says little.
- Shot counting differs between leagues and scorers, especially for deflections and rebounds.
Tips
- Compare goalies within the same league and season.
- Combine save percentage with shots against per game to see how busy the goalie is.
- For penalty shots and penalty kicks, track a separate percentage.