Save Percentage Calculator
Calculate save percentage with our free tool. See your stats, compare against averages, and track progress over time.
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist
Save Percentage Calculator
Calculator
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Formula: SV% = (Shots Against - Goals Against) / Shots Against
Worked example — SV% = .947 (Excellent -- Quality Start)
Formula
SV% = (Shots Against - Goals Against) / Shots Against
Save percentage equals saves divided by total shots faced. GSAA = Shots x (Goalie SV% - League Avg SV%), measuring total goals prevented above a league-average goaltender.
Worked Examples
Example 1: Single Game Save Percentage
Problem:A goaltender faces 38 shots and allows 2 goals in a game.
Solution:Saves = 38 - 2 = 36 SV% = 36 / 38 = .947 Quality Start threshold = .913 .947 > .913, so this IS a quality start. This is an excellent single-game performance.
Result:SV% = .947 (Excellent -- Quality Start)
Example 2: Season Save Percentage with GSAA
Problem:Season totals: 1,100 shots faced, 90 goals allowed, 40 games. League average SV% is .908.
Solution:Saves = 1100 - 90 = 1010 SV% = 1010 / 1100 = .918 Expected Goals (avg goalie) = 1100 x (1 - .908) = 101.2 GSAA = 101.2 - 90 = 11.2 goals saved above average GAA = 90 / 40 = 2.25
Result:SV% = .918 (Excellent) | GSAA = +11.2 | GAA = 2.25
Frequently Asked Questions
What is save percentage in hockey?
Save percentage (SV%) is the primary statistical measure of goaltender performance in hockey, representing the proportion of shots on goal that a goalie successfully stops. It is calculated by dividing saves by total shots faced, expressed as a three-decimal number (like .920). For example, stopping 28 of 30 shots gives a .933 save percentage. Save percentage is widely preferred over goals against average (GAA) and wins because it better isolates individual goaltender performance from team defense and offensive support. Every major hockey league from the NHL to youth hockey tracks save percentage as the standard goaltending efficiency metric.
How do you calculate save percentage?
The save percentage formula is SV% = Saves / Shots Against, which can also be written as SV% = (Shots Against - Goals Against) / Shots Against. For a single game, if a goalie faces 35 shots and allows 2 goals, the calculation is (35 - 2) / 35 = 33 / 35 = .943. For season totals, you simply use cumulative shots and goals. The formula works identically whether calculating for one period, one game, or an entire season. Save percentage is always expressed as a decimal to three places in hockey, so .920 means the goalie stopped 92.0% of shots. This convention differs from other sports where percentages are shown as whole numbers.
What is a good save percentage at different levels of hockey?
Save percentage benchmarks vary by competition level. In the NHL, .920 or higher is excellent, .910 to .919 is above average, .900 to .909 is average, and below .900 is poor. In the AHL (minor league), standards are similar but slightly lower due to less consistent defensive support. In college hockey (NCAA), save percentages tend to be slightly lower because of wider talent gaps between teams. In youth hockey (bantam through junior), save percentages can range widely from .850 to .940 depending on the level and age group. International play (Olympics, World Championships) typically sees higher save percentages because teams play more structured defensive systems.
Why is save percentage better than wins for evaluating goalies?
Save percentage is superior to wins because it measures what the goaltender can actually control, which is stopping shots, rather than being dependent on how many goals the team scores. A goalie who posts a .945 save percentage but loses 1-0 in a shutout-worthy performance gets zero credit in the wins column. Meanwhile, a goalie who allows 5 goals can earn a win if the team scores 6. Research has consistently shown that goaltender win percentages correlate more strongly with team offensive quality than with goaltender save percentage. In other words, wins tell you more about the team in front of the goalie than about the goalie themselves.
What is the difference between a quality start and save percentage?
Save percentage is a cumulative or per-game rate statistic, while a quality start is a binary game-level metric. A quality start is defined as any game where the goaltender finishes with a save percentage of .913 or higher (roughly league average). A goalie can have a strong season-long save percentage of .918 but actually have a below-average quality start percentage if their performance is inconsistent, posting brilliant .950 games followed by terrible .880 games. Conversely, a goalie with a mediocre .908 overall save percentage might have a high quality start percentage if they consistently hover just above .913.
How does shot volume affect save percentage interpretation?
Shot volume significantly impacts how save percentage should be interpreted, both in single games and across seasons. In a game with only 15 shots, each goal swings the save percentage by about .067, so a single bad bounce can turn a .933 into an .867. In a game with 40 shots, each goal only changes the percentage by .025, providing a more stable reading. Over a season, goalies who face more shots generally have slightly lower save percentages because fatigue and volume create more opportunities for mistakes. However, some goalies actually perform better with higher workloads because they stay more engaged. Analysts recommend at least 1,500 even-strength shots before drawing firm conclusions.
What is goals saved above average and how does it relate to save percentage?
Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA) converts save percentage into a counting statistic by calculating how many goals a goaltender saved compared to a league-average goalie facing the same number of shots. The formula is GSAA = Shots x (Goalie SV% - League SV%). For example, a goalie with .920 SV% facing 1,000 shots when league average is .908 has GSAA = 1000 x (.920 - .908) = 12 goals saved above average. GSAA rewards both high save percentages and heavy workloads, making it useful for evaluating total goaltender value rather than just rate performance. Positive GSAA means the goalie outperformed league average.
How quickly does save percentage stabilize over a season?
Statistical research on NHL goaltenders has shown that save percentage is one of the slowest-stabilizing statistics in hockey. At even strength, it takes approximately 1,500 to 2,000 shots for save percentage to become a reliable predictor of future performance, which translates to roughly a full season of starter workload. This slow stabilization occurs because the difference between an elite and average goaltender is very small in absolute terms (about .012 to .015 in save percentage), and random variance can easily mask this difference in small samples. This is why early-season save percentages should be treated with caution and why goaltender evaluation is one of the most difficult challenges in hockey analytics.
What are the limitations of using save percentage to evaluate goalies?
Save percentage has several important limitations despite being the best single-number goaltending metric. It does not account for shot quality, meaning goalies facing more high-danger chances from close range will have lower save percentages even if they are equally skilled. It does not differentiate between even-strength, power play, and shorthanded situations. It counts all goals equally, including deflections and own-goals that are virtually unsaveable. It does not measure rebound control, puck handling, or positioning that prevent shots from occurring in the first place. Modern analytics supplements save percentage with expected goals models and high-danger save percentage.
How has goaltender save percentage evolved over the history of hockey?
Goaltender save percentage has shown a clear upward trend throughout hockey history, driven by improvements in technique, equipment, and athleticism. In the 1970s, the average NHL save percentage was around .870 to .880, reflecting the stand-up goaltending style of the era. The 1980s saw a modest improvement to around .880 to .890. The butterfly revolution of the 1990s, pioneered by Patrick Roy, pushed averages above .900 for the first time. The early 2000s dead-puck era saw averages reach .910 to .915. Modern goaltenders benefit from refined hybrid styles, video analysis, and improved training methods, with league averages typically between .905 and .910.
References
Reviewed for accuracy by Sher, Sports Science & Nutrition Specialist · Editorial policy
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