Ice Hockey Statistics Abbreviations & Terms

Don’t know your PIM from your PCT?

This quick list of hockey stat sheet abbreviations and explanations will help you understand the game like a seasoned veteran!

POS	Player position. The possible positions are C (center), LW (left wing), RW (right wing), D (defense) or G (goaltender).
No	Player jersey number.
GP	Games Played.
G	Goals. A goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring team to touch the puck prior to the puck entering the net. Note: Goals scored during a shootout do not count towards a player’s goal total.
A	Assists. An assist is awarded to the player or players (maximum of two) who touch the puck prior to the goal, provided no defender plays or possesses the puck in between.
PTS	Points. The sum total of goals and assists.
+/-	Plus-minus. See an explanation of plus minus.
PIM	Penalty minutes.
PP	Power play goals.
SH	Short-handed goals.
GW	Game-winning goals. After the final score has been determinded, the goal which leaves the winning team one goal ahead of its opponent is the game-winning goal (example: if Team A beats Team B 8-3, the player scoring the fourth goal for Team A receives credit for the game-winning goal). Note: Goals scored during a shootout are not credited as game-winning goals.
S	Shots on goal. If a player shoots the puck with the intention of scoring and if that shot would have gone in the net had the goaltender not stopped it, the shot is recorded as a shot on goal.
PCT	Shooting percentage. Divide the number of goals scored by the number of shots taken.

GOALIE STATS EXPLAINED
GP	Games Played.
W	Wins. A goaltender receives a win if he is on the ice when his team scores the game-winning goal.
L	Losses. A goaltender receives a loss if he is on the ice when the opposing team scores the game-winning goal.
SOL	Shootout losses.
GA	Goals against. Empty net goals do not count towards a goaltender’s goals against. Goals scored during a shootout do not count towards a goaltender’s goals against.
SA	Shots against.
GAA	Goals-against average.
S	Saves.
SV PCT	Save percentage.
SO	Shutouts. If two goaltenders combine for a shutout, neither receives credit for the shutout. Instead it is recorded as a team shutout. If a regular season game is tied 0-0 at the end of overtime, both goaltenders are credited with a shutout, regardless of how many goals are scored in the shootout.
PIM	Penalty minutes.