Hat Tricks and Math Tricks: Navigating Hockey Scoring & Stats

In this Edition

1. How do you Score in Hockey?
2. What is the Power Play and Penalty Kill?
3. What are some Other Key Statistics?
4. What are Special Teams?

How do you Score in Hockey?

Scoring is the lifeblood of ice hockey and can be broken out into some essential components:

• Goals: A goal occurs when the puck completely crosses the goal line and enters the net. Scoring goals is the ultimate objective in hockey, and players earn individual and team recognition for their goal-scoring prowess.
• Assists: Assists are awarded to players who directly contribute to a goal-scoring play by making a pass or setting up their teammate. Assists recognize the players' ability to create scoring opportunities.

• Points: Points are a cumulative measure of a player's offensive production. A player earns one point for each goal scored and one point for each assist. Points provide a comprehensive view of a player's contribution to the team's offense.

What is the Power Play and Penalty Kill?

Power plays and penalty kills are crucial situations in hockey that can dramatically impact the outcome of a game. Let's take a closer look.

• Power Play: A power play occurs when one team has a numerical advantage due to an opponent's penalty (called the "man advantage"). The penalized player sits in the penalty box, giving the opposing team an extra skater on the ice. Power plays create scoring opportunities and increase the chances of goals being scored.
• Penalty Kill: The penalized team goes on a penalty kill to prevent the opposing team from scoring on their power play. Players work strategically to defend their net, block shots, and clear the puck to neutralize the opponent's advantage.

What are some other Key Statistics?

Beyond goals, assists, and points, hockey offers a plethora of statistics that provide deeper insights into player performance and team dynamics. Here are a few key statistics to understand:

• Plus/Minus: This metric is a measure of a player's impact on goal differential during even-strength play. A player receives a plus rating if their team scores a goal while they are on the ice, and a minus rating if the opposing team scores.
• Faceoff Percentage: Faceoffs occur at the beginning of each period and after stoppages in play. They are critical for gaining possession of the puck and controlling the start of a play. Faceoff percentages measure a player's success rate in winning faceoffs and can influence offensive opportunities.
• Time on Ice: Time on ice tracks the amount of time a player spends on the ice during a game. It provides insights into a player's workload, physical stamina and the trust placed in them by the coaching staff.
• Shooting Percentage: Shooting percentage is the ratio of goals scored to the number of shots taken by a player. It indicates a player's accuracy and scoring efficiency.

For examples of how data is represented by the NHL, see:

• Example of Team Statistics
• Example of Player Statistics

What are Special Teams?

In hockey, "special teams" refer to the groups of players who are on the ice during specific situations that involve penalties. There are two main types of special teams: the power play unit and the penalty kill unit.

• Power Play Unit: This team comes on the ice when the opposing team has one (or more) player(s) in the penalty box, giving them a numerical advantage on the ice. The main objective of the power play unit is to exploit this advantage and score a goal. The players on the power play unit are usually the team's best offensive players.
• Penalty Kill Unit: When a team has one (or more) player(s) in the penalty box, they are said to be on the penalty kill. The main objective of the penalty kill unit is to prevent the opposing team from scoring until their penalized player can return to the ice. The players on the penalty kill unit are usually some of the team's best defensive players and are skilled at blocking shots and disrupting the opposing team's plays.

Special teams play a critical role in the game of hockey. A team's performance during power play and penalty kill situations can often be the difference between winning and losing, especially in closely contested games. Therefore, teams often spend a significant amount of time practicing and strategizing for these special team situations.

Below are examples of metrics that are collected in special teams situations:

• Power Play Points: Power play points represent points accumulated during power play situations. Statistically, players who excel on power plays have a higher chance of scoring goals and accumulating points.
• Shorthanded Points: Shorthanded points refer to points earned while a team is on a penalty kill. These points can be especially valuable, as they showcase a player's offensive capabilities even when short-handed.
• Special Teams Goal Differential: Monitoring special teams goal differential—goals scored vs. goals allowed during power plays and penalty kills—can provide insights into a team's effectiveness in these critical situations.

Now that you have a better grasp of scoring and statistics, you can analyze player performance more effectively and make informed decisions for your fantasy hockey teams. Check out our other posts in the Puck 101 series, where we explore all things hockey!

Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest and greatest content on all things hockey analytics!