Enter your saves and shots faced to calculate a goalie's save percentage (SV%). You'll see the result expressed both as a decimal and a percentage, along with a quick performance rating so you can benchmark against NHL and lacrosse standards.
Save Percentage (SV%)
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SV% as Decimal
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Goals Allowed
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Performance Rating
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Save percentage is calculated by dividing the number of saves by the total shots faced: SV% = Saves ÷ Shots Faced. For example, if a goalie faced 50 shots and made 46 saves, the SV% = 46 ÷ 50 = 0.9200, or 92.00%. It can be expressed as either a decimal (0.9200) or a percentage (92.00%).
In the NHL, a save percentage of .915 (91.5%) or higher is generally considered good for a starting goaltender. Elite goalies often post SV% above .920, while a league-average season typically falls around .910–.915. Anything below .900 is generally below average for a full-season starter.
If a goalie faced 50 shots and made 46 saves, the save percentage is 46 ÷ 50 = 0.9200, or 92.00%. That means the goalie allowed 4 goals and stopped 92% of all shots they faced — a solid performance by NHL standards.
No — empty net goals are not counted against a goalie's save percentage in hockey. Since the goalie is not on the ice when an empty net goal is scored, those shots are excluded from both the saves and shots faced totals used in the SV% calculation.
A shot on goal is any shot that would have entered the net if not blocked by the goalie, meaning it was on target. Shots that miss the net entirely, hit the post or crossbar, or are blocked by a skater before reaching the goalie do not count as shots on goal.
Save percentage measures the proportion of shots a goalie stops, regardless of how many shots they face. Goals Against Average (GAA) measures the average number of goals allowed per 60 minutes of play. SV% is generally considered a better indicator of individual goalie performance because it accounts for the volume of shots faced.
Most analysts prefer save percentage because it normalises for shot volume. A goalie who faces 40 shots and allows 3 goals has a lower GAA than one who faces 20 shots and allows 2, but their SV% reveals the first goalie actually performed better. That said, both metrics together give a fuller picture of goalie performance.
The main metrics are save percentage (SV%), goals against average (GAA), and wins. Advanced metrics include Goals Saved Above Average (GSAA), high-danger save percentage, and Quality Starts. Save percentage remains the most widely used single-number summary of how well a goalie is performing.