Save percentage (SV%) is the share of shots a goalie stops; goals-against average (GAA) is goals allowed per 60 minutes; and quality starts (QS) count how often a starter meets a defined game-level standard. They measure different things, and QS has more than one published definition.
What does save percentage measure?
Save percentage is saves divided by shots faced. Since shots faced consist of saves plus goals allowed, it is usually shown as a decimal such as .910. A higher SV% means the goalie stopped a larger share of shots on goal over the sample being measured. The NHL glossary gives the formula as saves ÷ shots faced: NHL glossary.
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For example, if a goalie makes 27 saves on 30 shots, the save percentage is 27 ÷ 30 = .900. This is a hypothetical calculation, not a league benchmark.
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GAA is goals allowed multiplied by 60, then divided by minutes played: GA × 60 ÷ minutes. It expresses the rate of goals allowed per 60 minutes, rather than goals allowed per appearance. A lower GAA means fewer goals were allowed per 60 minutes in the sample. The NHL glossary states this formula on its hockey glossary page.
Because GAA counts goals and SV% relates goals to shots faced, the two figures can tell different parts of the story. GAA alone does not show how many shots the goalie faced; SV% alone does not show playing time or the total goals allowed over that time.
What is a quality start?
Quality start is a game-level measure, not an NHL glossary statistic. Sports-Reference describes the Hockey-Reference method as a start in which the goalie reaches at least that season’s mean save percentage. It also applies a low-shot adjustment: a goalie facing 20 or fewer shots qualifies with a save percentage of .885 or better. The method is documented in Sports-Reference’s explanation of quality starts.
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The threshold can change with the season. Sports-Reference’s example for 2013–14 used a .915 season mean; that is a historical illustration, not a universal or current threshold.
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Why the source matters
Not every publisher uses the same QS convention. An NHL.com statistics-section announcement described its measure as starts with SV% above .900. That differs from Hockey-Reference’s season-mean threshold and low-shot adjustment. The NHL.com article was published in 2019, so its accompanying league-average figures are historical context, not current benchmarks. When quoting QS or QS%, name the source and its threshold rather than presenting one convention as the official NHL definition.
What does QS% mean?
Quality-start percentage is quality starts divided by games started. It describes the frequency with which a starter met the selected standard; it is not an average save percentage and does not describe every appearance equally. The calculation and conventions are explained by Sports-Reference.
QS% depends on both the number of starts and the definition used to classify each start. Short runs can be misleading as comparisons, and a season-specific threshold should not be treated as a fixed standard across seasons.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to read the three stats together
| Stat | What it answers | Formula or convention | What to watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| SV% | What share of shots faced did the goalie stop? | Saves ÷ shots faced | Interpret it within the same season and sample; shot mix and game context affect comparisons. |
| GAA | How many goals were allowed per 60 minutes? | Goals allowed × 60 ÷ minutes played | It is a goals-per-time rate, not a shot-stopping percentage. |
| QS / QS% | How often did a starter meet a game-level standard? | Threshold varies by source; QS% = QS ÷ starts | Identify the provider and threshold before comparing values. |
Compare goalies over the same season and a comparable sample, and account for games started and minutes played. NHL records pages set minimum games played for career and season record lists, underscoring why raw totals or a small handful of appearances do not make a fair comparison: NHL records.
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