To compare NHL goaltenders, line up the same season and competition, check how much each played, then read save percentage (SV%), goals-against average (GAA) and goals saved above expected (GSAx) together. SV% is a save rate, GAA is goals allowed per 60 minutes, and GSAx puts results in the context of shot quality. They describe different parts of performance, so none is a complete ranking on its own.
What each goalie statistic tells you
Save percentage (SV%)
SV% is saves divided by shots faced. The NHL defines a shot on goal as an attempt that would enter the net if the goalie did not stop it. SV% is therefore an intuitive measure of how often a goalie stops shots on goal, but it treats a relatively harmless attempt and a dangerous chance alike. NHL Hockey Glossary
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Goals-against average (GAA)
GAA expresses goals allowed per 60 minutes of playing time. A lower figure means fewer goals were conceded per unit of time in the recorded sample. It does not adjust for the difficulty of the chances or isolate the goalie from the team defending in front of them. Seattle Kraken: Analytics with Alison—Sizing up Goaltending
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GSAx compares the goals opponents were expected to score with the goals they actually scored. A positive value means the goalie allowed fewer goals than the model expected; a negative value means more. It adds shot-quality context to the outcome, but its meaning depends on the expected-goals model used. Seattle Kraken: Analytics with Alison—Sizing up Goaltending
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How to compare goalies fairly
- Set the same timeframe. Compare the same season or the same clearly defined multi-season span.
- Match the competition. Keep regular-season numbers separate from playoff numbers; they are different samples.
- Check workload. Look at games, starts, shots against and time on ice alongside the headline rates. NHL.com’s goalie statistics page provides season and game-type filters and these workload fields. NHL.com Stats: Goalies
- Read the three figures as complementary signals. Use SV% for the share of shots stopped, GAA for goals allowed per playing time, and GSAx for how actual goals allowed compare with a shot-quality expectation.
- Match the GSAx model and game-state scope. Expected-goal models can use factors such as shot location, game state, preceding shots and shooter, and their designs differ. Compare figures from the same provider and check which game situations are included where possible. Seattle Kraken: Beyond the Box Score—Intro to Hockey Analytics
How to interpret differences between the numbers
When a goalie’s SV% and GSAx tell different stories, do not force them into one ranking. A high SV% alongside a modest GSAx can be consistent with facing shots that were easier than the model baseline. A lower SV% alongside positive GSAx can be consistent with facing more difficult chances and allowing fewer goals than expected. These are ways the measures can diverge, not conclusions about any particular goalie.
GAA may diverge from both because it records goals allowed per 60 minutes without adjusting for shot difficulty. Team defense and the mix of chances affect the goals a goalie faces as well as the final rate. Use the disagreement among statistics as a prompt to examine context, not as proof that one number is wrong.
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What GSAx can—and cannot—establish
GSAx is a model-based comparison, not a direct measurement of a goalie’s isolated skill. Expected-goals estimates rely on available inputs and model choices; public models are not interchangeable by default. The Seattle Kraken has identified Natural Stat Trick, MoneyPuck, Evolving Hockey and HockeyViz as public hockey analytics resources, and specifically discusses GSAx from Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey. Check each provider’s current definitions and availability before comparing its figures with another source. Seattle Kraken: Analytics with Alison—Sizing up Goaltending Seattle Kraken: Beyond the Box Score—Intro to Hockey Analytics
Even advanced statistics cannot fully represent positioning, reads, screens, defensive breakdowns or whether the goalie made the right decision. NHL coverage has noted that shot type, distance, angle and rush context matter when interpreting goals and saves. NHL: Elite goalies trust process, not stats A useful comparison therefore describes recorded outcomes and model context without treating either as a complete account of goaltending performance.
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Where to find comparable NHL numbers
Use the NHL goalie statistics table to set the season and game type, then review starts, shots against, saves, goals against, SV%, GAA and time on ice together. For GSAx, identify the provider and its scope; NHL.com’s standard goalie table does not by itself make different third-party expected-goals models equivalent. NHL.com supports historical, season, multi-season and game-by-game statistical queries, which can help when defining a consistent comparison window. NHL: NHL.com launches revamped statistics section
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