What this calculator does
Save percentage is saves divided by shots faced, where shots faced is saves plus goals against. A goalie making 27 saves and conceding 3 has faced 30 shots and posted a .900 save percentage.
In hockey it is the primary goaltending statistic because, unlike goals against average, it does not punish a goalie for playing behind a weak defence. A goalie facing 40 shots a night and conceding 3 has done better work than one facing 20 and conceding 2, and save percentage says so while GAA does not.
The formula
Shots faced are the saves plus the goals against, since every shot on goal is either saved or scored. The save percentage is saves divided by that total. It is conventionally written to three decimal places, so .900 rather than 90%.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Save percentage | Saves divided by shots faced. Written .915 rather than 91.5% by convention. |
| Shots faced | Saves plus goals against. Shots that miss the net or are blocked do not count. |
| GAA | Goals against average, the alternative measure, which depends on shot volume and therefore on the defence. |
| Quality start | A start meeting a save percentage threshold, used to count solid performances rather than just wins. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Saves | Saves made. |
| Goals allowed | Goals against. Empty net goals are conventionally excluded from save percentage. |
When to use it
Assessing a single game
A .900 night is around average and a .950 night is outstanding, and the figure is immediately comparable across games with very different shot volumes.
Comparing goalies on different teams
Save percentage largely removes the effect of the defence in front, which is what makes it the fairer comparison.
Tracking a season
Season save percentage is stable enough over hundreds of shots to be a genuine measure of ability rather than of luck.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How does save percentage change with shots faced?
The same three goals conceded against a range of save totals.
Questions
What is a good save percentage?
In the NHL, .910 or above is solid, .920 is very good and .930 over a season is elite. Below .900 is generally not sustainable at that level. The bands differ by league and have drifted over time with changes in equipment and tactics.
Are empty net goals included?
Conventionally not, since the goalie is not on the ice. Including them would penalise a goalie for a situation entirely outside their control, which is why official statistics exclude them.
Is save percentage better than GAA?
For comparing goalies, generally yes. GAA depends on how many shots the defence allows, so a goalie behind a strong team looks better on GAA regardless of their own performance. Save percentage measures what the goalie actually did with the shots faced.
What counts as a shot on goal?
A shot that would have gone in had the goalie not stopped it, or that did go in. Shots that miss the net or are blocked by a defender are not shots on goal and do not appear in the calculation, which is why shot attempt metrics exist separately.
For goals against average, see the GAA calculator. For fielding in baseball, see the fielding percentage calculator.