Save percentage is saves divided by shots faced. A goalie who stops 27 of 30 shots has a .900 save percentage.
How is save percentage calculated?
The NHL defines save percentage by dividing saves by shots faced.
If a goalie faces 40 shots and makes 38 saves, the calculation is 38 ÷ 40 = .950. In hockey tables, the result is normally displayed as a three-decimal number such as .950 rather than 95.0%.
Why goals allowed are already reflected in the formula
A shot on goal produces either a save or a goal. If a goalie faces 30 shots and allows three goals, that means 27 of the 30 shots were saved. The save percentage is therefore 27 ÷ 30 = .900.
Is a higher or lower save percentage better?
Higher is better. A larger save percentage means the goalie stopped a greater share of the shots recorded against him.
That does not mean one fixed SV% should always be labelled “good.” Scoring environments change over time, workloads differ, and shot quality is not identical from team to team. Comparing a goalie with the current league environment and with other goalies facing similar circumstances is more useful than relying on an old universal benchmark.
Save percentage versus GAA
The two statistics are related to goals allowed but use different denominators:
- SV%: saves divided by shots faced.
- GAA: goals allowed per 60 minutes played.
A goalie can face a large number of difficult shots and still record a strong save percentage while allowing enough total goals to produce a higher GAA. Another goalie may face fewer shots behind a strong defensive team and post a lower GAA.
That is why it is useful to read both. See What Is GAA in Hockey? for the other formula.
A worked example
Goalie A faces 32 shots and makes 30 saves. Goalie B faces 24 shots and makes 22 saves.
- Goalie A: 30 ÷ 32 = .938 SV%.
- Goalie B: 22 ÷ 24 = .917 SV%.
Both allowed two goals, so a goals-allowed total by itself would not show the difference in workload. Save percentage does.
Compare live goalie numbers
RosterHouse’s NHL goalie page puts GAA, save percentage and other goalie statistics together so you can compare them rather than relying on one number alone.
View NHL goalie stats →Why sample size matters
A goalie can record a very high save percentage over a small number of shots or games. As the sample grows, the statistic reflects a larger body of work. That is why qualification thresholds are common when leagues or fantasy competitions identify statistical leaders.
Reference: the NHL Hockey Glossary defines save percentage as saves divided by shots faced. NHL Hockey Glossary.