The average number of goals conceded by a goaltender per 60 minutes of ice time, adjusted for differing game situations and player quality, is a key performance metric. A specific tool exists to compute this adjusted average, enabling a more accurate comparison of goaltender performance across different teams and seasons. For example, if a goaltender has faced a large number of high-quality shots and has a lower goals conceded average than a counterpart who faced easier shots, the former is often considered to be performing at a higher level.
This calculation is vital in talent evaluation, player acquisition decisions, and strategic game planning. Analyzing a goaltender’s performance via this adjusted metric allows teams to more accurately assess their true impact, beyond raw save percentage or goals against figures. The concept emerged as statistical analysis in hockey became more sophisticated, recognizing that shot quality and defensive support significantly influenced goaltending results.
