1. What is Save Percentage?

Save percentage (Save%) is a statistic in ice hockey and other sports that represents the percentage of shots on goal a goaltender stops. It's a key metric for evaluating a goalie's performance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the save percentage formula:

Where:

• \( saves \) — Number of shots successfully stopped by the goalie
• \( shots \) — Total number of shots faced by the goalie

Explanation: The formula calculates the percentage of shots that the goalie successfully saved out of all shots faced.

3. Importance of Save Percentage

Details: Save percentage is a crucial metric for evaluating goaltender performance. Higher percentages indicate better performance, with professional goalies typically having save percentages above 90%.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of saves and total shots faced. Both values must be positive numbers, and saves cannot exceed shots.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good save percentage in hockey?
A: In professional hockey, a save percentage above .915 is generally considered good, while elite goalies often maintain .920 or higher.

Q2: How does save percentage differ from goals against average?
A: Save percentage measures the percentage of shots stopped, while GAA measures average goals allowed per game. Save percentage is generally considered a better indicator of performance.

Q3: Does save percentage account for shot quality?
A: No, basic save percentage treats all shots equally. Advanced metrics like "high-danger save percentage" account for shot difficulty.

Q4: Can save percentage be over 100%?
A: No, since it's impossible to save more shots than were actually taken, the maximum possible save percentage is 100%.

Q5: How many shots are needed for a meaningful save percentage?
A: Statisticians typically consider save percentage meaningful after about 1000 shots faced, though trends can be observed with smaller samples.