Goalie Save Percentage and GAA: How the Numbers Work
Save percentage is saves divided by shots faced, written to three decimals such as .941. Goals against average scales goals allowed to a full game. Together they describe a goaltender far better than either does alone.
The formulas
- Saves = shots faced − goals allowed.
- SV% = saves ÷ shots faced, reported as .900-.940 rather than a percent sign.
- GAA = goals allowed ÷ minutes played × regulation length (60 in hockey).
- Shots faced excludes attempts that miss the net or are blocked by a skater.
Why the two can disagree
A goaltender behind a leaky defence faces heavy volume: he can post a strong .925 and still carry a 3.20 GAA because the shots keep coming. The reverse also happens — a low GAA behind a dominant team can hide an ordinary save rate. Look at shots faced per 60 minutes alongside both figures before drawing a conclusion.
Benchmarks and variants
- NHL: around .910 is league average, .920+ is starter quality, .930+ is elite.
- Even-strength save percentage strips out penalty-kill situations for a fairer comparison.
- Goals saved above expected adjusts for shot quality and location.
- Empty-net goals do not count against SV% or GAA.
Soccer goalkeepers
The same arithmetic applies to shots on target, and the modern equivalent of quality adjustment is post-shot expected goals: comparing goals conceded against the chance quality faced separates shot-stopping from defensive workload.
Key takeaways — Goalie Save Percentage Calculator
- SV% = saves ÷ shots faced, quoted to three decimals.
- GAA = goals ÷ minutes × 60, and it depends heavily on the team in front.
- Read save percentage, GAA and shot volume together.