How Points in Hockey are Calculated: A Complete Guide to Goals and Assists

Hockey is a fast-paced and thrilling sport that has captured the hearts of fans worldwide. One of the most important aspects of the game is the way points are calculated for players, and how those points impact the game. Understanding the ins and outs of the point system can be daunting, but fear not – we’ve got you covered! In this complete guide to goals and assists, we’ll explore the intricacies of how points are calculated in hockey, as well as some of the top players in NHL history.

Scoring is a critical component of any hockey game, and understanding how it works is crucial to comprehending the point system. Points are awarded for both goals and assists, with each counting towards a player’s overall total. However, not all goals and assists are created equal, and there are a variety of factors that can impact a player’s point total.

Whether you’re a seasoned hockey fan or a newcomer to the sport, this guide will provide valuable insight into how the point system works in hockey. So buckle up and get ready to dive into the fascinating world of hockey scoring – you won’t be disappointed!

Understanding the Point System in Hockey

For those new to the sport of hockey, understanding the point system can be a bit confusing. The point system in hockey is used to track individual and team success throughout a season. Each player is awarded points for their contributions on the ice, whether that be through goals, assists, or other factors. However, the point system in hockey is not as simple as just adding up the number of goals and assists a player has. Let’s take a closer look at the point system and what it means for players and teams.

At its most basic level, the point system in hockey awards points to players based on their offensive contributions during a game. The two main ways to earn points in hockey are through goals and assists. A goal is worth one point, while an assist is worth half a point. These points are used to track a player’s total points throughout a season, which is a key indicator of their individual success.

However, there is more to the point system in hockey than just goals and assists. In addition to these traditional scoring metrics, players can also earn points for other factors such as power play goals and short-handed goals. These points are calculated in the same way as traditional goals and assists and are factored into a player’s total points for the season.

The point system in hockey is also used to track team success. In the NHL, teams are awarded two points for a win and one point for an overtime or shootout loss. These points are used to determine a team’s place in the standings and ultimately their playoff seeding. This means that even a single point can make a big difference in the long run.

Overall, the point system in hockey is a crucial component of the sport. By awarding points for individual and team success, the point system helps to create a sense of competition and provides a way to track progress over the course of a season. Whether you’re a casual fan or a die-hard enthusiast, understanding the point system in hockey is essential for fully appreciating the game.

Now that we have a better understanding of the point system in hockey, let’s take a closer look at how goals are scored and counted towards points.

What are Hockey Points?

1. Points are a fundamental component of the scoring system in hockey, and are used to measure a player’s offensive contributions to their team’s success.

2. Points are earned by players who score goals or make assists on goals scored by their teammates.

3. For a goal scored, the player who scored the goal is awarded one point, while the player who made the primary assist is awarded one point, and the player who made the secondary assist is awarded half a point.

4. The total number of points a player earns throughout a season is used to rank the player’s performance and to determine various awards, including the Hart Memorial Trophy for the league’s most valuable player.

The point system is an essential part of hockey, and understanding how it works is crucial for fans and players alike.

How are Points Calculated in Hockey?

The NHL point system is straightforward. A player earns points for scoring goals and making assists. Goals are worth one point each, while assists are worth one point as well. Points are the total number of goals and assists a player has.

For example, if a player scores two goals and has one assist in a game, they would earn a total of three points for that game.

Points are important for ranking players and determining league leaders. At the end of the regular season, the player with the most points wins the Art Ross Trophy, an award given to the league’s leading scorer.

• To calculate a player’s points per game (PPG), you take their total number of points and divide it by the number of games played.
• Similarly, to calculate a player’s points per season (PPS), you take their total number of points and divide it by the number of regular season games (typically 82).
• These metrics help to assess a player’s overall productivity and consistency throughout a season.
• It is also worth noting that some leagues and tournaments have different point systems, but the NHL point system is widely used in professional ice hockey leagues around the world.

How Goals are Scored and Counted Towards Points

Scoring a Goal: In hockey, a goal is scored when the puck completely crosses the goal line between the two posts and underneath the crossbar. A goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring team who touched the puck before it crossed the line.

Types of Goals: There are different types of goals in hockey, including even-strength goals, power-play goals, shorthanded goals, and overtime goals. Each of these goals counts towards a player’s point total, but some carry more weight than others.

Assists on Goals: When a goal is scored, up to two players on the scoring team may be credited with an assist if they made a pass or play that directly contributed to the goal being scored. Assists count towards a player’s point total and are an important factor in determining a player’s overall offensive production.

Goals as Game-Winners: A game-winning goal is scored by the player who scores the goal that ultimately puts their team ahead for the rest of the game. Game-winning goals are a stat tracked separately from overall goals and can have a big impact on a player’s reputation and value to their team.

Types of Goals in Hockey

Even-Strength Goals: This type of goal is scored when both teams have the same number of players on the ice. These goals are the most common and are worth one point towards a player’s overall point total.

Power Play Goals: These goals are scored when one team has a numerical advantage due to a penalty being assessed to the opposing team. Power play goals are worth one point towards a player’s overall point total.

Short-Handed Goals: These goals are scored when one team has a numerical disadvantage due to a penalty being assessed to their own team. Short-handed goals are worth one point towards a player’s overall point total.

Empty Net Goals: These goals are scored when the opposing team’s goaltender has been pulled and they have an extra attacker on the ice. These goals are worth one point towards a player’s overall point total.

Assists and Their Impact on Point Totals

Assists are also important in determining a player’s point total, as they are awarded to players who make a pass or contribute to a goal scored by a teammate.

There are two types of assists in hockey: primary assists, which are given to the player who made the pass that led directly to a goal, and secondary assists, which are given to the player who made the pass that led to the primary assist.

Each assist is worth one point in the point system, so a player who scores a goal with two assists will be credited with three points for that game.

What is an Assist in Hockey?

Assists are another way for players to earn points in hockey. An assist is awarded to the player or players who touched the puck prior to a goal being scored. A maximum of two assists can be awarded per goal.

The player who scores the goal receives one point, while the players who earned the assists each receive one point as well. This means that a single goal can earn a player a maximum of two points towards their overall point total.

Assists can be just as important as goals in determining a player’s value and impact on a game. Players who are skilled at setting up their teammates for goals often have high assist totals and are highly sought after by teams.

There are different types of assists in hockey, including primary assists and secondary assists. Primary assists are awarded to the player who made the pass that directly led to the goal, while secondary assists are awarded to the player who made the pass that led to the primary assist.

How are Assists Calculated in Hockey?

In hockey, an assist is awarded to a player who made a pass or a play that leads to a goal scored by their teammate. To be credited with an assist, the pass or play must be the last two touches of the puck by teammates before the goal.

Assists are recorded by the official scorer and added to a player’s statistics in the same way as goals. They are tallied throughout the season and contribute to a player’s overall point total.

It’s worth noting that not all goals have assists, and a goal may have more than one assist. If more than two players contributed to the goal, the official scorer will only award two assists.

The Importance of Assists in Hockey

Assists play a crucial role in the game of hockey. They are the second half of a scoring play, where the player who made the pass leading to a goal is credited with an assist. Assists are important because they can demonstrate the value of a player’s contribution to the team beyond just scoring goals.

Assists are a good measure of a player’s playmaking ability. A player with a high number of assists is considered a skilled playmaker, able to create scoring opportunities for their teammates. They also help to keep the team’s offense flowing, which can lead to more scoring chances and ultimately, more wins.

In addition, assists can help determine tiebreakers in the standings. If two or more teams have the same number of points, the team with more wins is ranked higher. If the number of wins is the same, the team with more points in head-to-head matchups is ranked higher. And if that is also tied, the team with more goal differential is ranked higher. Assists can contribute to a team’s goal differential, which can be the deciding factor in tiebreakers.

Overall, assists may not receive the same attention as goals in hockey, but they are just as important. They showcase a player’s playmaking ability and contribute to a team’s success in more ways than just scoring goals.

The Role of Plus-Minus in Calculating Points

Plus-Minus is a statistic used in hockey to measure a player’s impact on their team’s goal differential while they are on the ice. It is calculated by subtracting the number of goals scored against while a player is on the ice from the number of goals scored for while the player is on the ice.

Plus-Minus is used in calculating a player’s point total, with a plus-one added to the player’s point total for every goal scored while they are on the ice and a minus-one subtracted for every goal scored against them while on the ice.

While Plus-Minus is not a perfect statistic and has its limitations, it is still an important tool for evaluating a player’s overall impact on the ice.

Plus-Minus can also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of a team’s defensive units and goaltenders, as they are typically the ones on the ice for goals scored against.

What is Plus-Minus in Hockey?

• Plus-minus is a statistic used in hockey to measure a player’s impact on the game.
• It measures the difference between the number of goals scored by a player’s team when they are on the ice compared to the number of goals scored by the opposing team.
• If a player is on the ice for more goals scored by their team than the opponent, they have a positive plus-minus.
• Conversely, if a player is on the ice for more goals scored by the opposing team, they have a negative plus-minus.

Plus-minus is a simple way to evaluate a player’s overall contribution to the game, as it takes into account both offensive and defensive play. However, it does have its limitations. For example, a player who consistently plays with strong teammates may have a better plus-minus than a player who is equally skilled but plays with weaker teammates.

Another limitation of plus-minus is that it does not differentiate between even-strength, power-play, or shorthanded goals. As a result, a player who is primarily used on the power play may have a higher plus-minus than a player who plays mostly at even strength.

Despite its limitations, plus-minus remains a useful tool for coaches, scouts, and analysts to evaluate a player’s overall impact on the game. When used in conjunction with other statistics and qualitative evaluations, it can provide a more complete picture of a player’s performance.

Top Players with the Most Points in NHL History

Points are a key statistic in hockey, as they are awarded for both goals and assists. Some of the greatest players in NHL history have accumulated an impressive number of points over their careers, solidifying their place in hockey history.

At the top of the list is Wayne Gretzky, who amassed an incredible 2,857 points over his career. Gretzky’s dominance in the 1980s and early 1990s earned him the nickname “The Great One” and cemented his status as one of the all-time greats.

Other players near the top of the list include Jaromir Jagr, Mark Messier, and Steve Yzerman, all of whom surpassed 1,700 points over their respective careers. These players were known for their longevity, consistency, and ability to perform in high-pressure situations.

While accumulating points is an impressive feat, it is important to note that the game has evolved over time, and players from different eras faced different challenges and opportunities. Nevertheless, the players who have accumulated the most points in NHL history have undoubtedly left a lasting impact on the game and continue to inspire future generations of hockey players.

Wayne Gretzky: The All-Time Points Leader

Rank	Player	Points
1	Wayne Gretzky	2,857
2	Mark Messier	1,887
3	Jaromir Jagr	1,921

Wayne Gretzky, often referred to as “The Great One”, is widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time. Throughout his career, Gretzky set numerous records, but perhaps his most impressive accomplishment was becoming the all-time points leader in the National Hockey League (NHL).

Gretzky’s record of 2,857 points is a testament to his incredible talent, work ethic, and longevity. His record is even more impressive when you consider that the second-highest point scorer in NHL history, Mark Messier, scored over 900 points fewer than Gretzky.

Gretzky’s ability to score points was unmatched during his era. He won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL’s leading scorer a record 10 times and finished in the top five in scoring in all but one of his 20 seasons in the league.

While Gretzky’s points record is certainly impressive, it’s only one part of his incredible legacy. He won four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s and was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as the playoff MVP twice. He also won the Hart Trophy as the NHL’s most valuable player nine times.

The Top Active Players with the Most Points

Rank	Player	Points
1	Joe Thornton	1,529
2	Patrick Marleau	1,223
3	Anze Kopitar	1,114

While Wayne Gretzky is the all-time points leader in the National Hockey League (NHL), there are still several active players who have put up impressive point totals throughout their careers.

The current active player with the most points is Joe Thornton, who has amassed 1,529 points over his 24-year career. Thornton has played for several teams throughout his career, but he is perhaps best known for his time with the San Jose Sharks, where he spent 15 seasons and served as the team captain for several years.

Another player with an impressive point total is Patrick Marleau, who has scored 1,223 points over his 23-year career. Marleau is also known for his time with the Sharks, where he spent 19 seasons and became the franchise’s all-time leader in games played, goals, and points.

Anze Kopitar of the Los Angeles Kings is another active player with over 1,000 career points. Kopitar has scored 1,114 points over his 15-year career, all with the Kings. He has helped lead the team to two Stanley Cup championships and has been named to the NHL All-Star team multiple times.

Other Legends of the Game with Impressive Point Totals

While Wayne Gretzky may have set the standard for point production in the NHL, there have been many other players throughout history who have amassed impressive point totals. One such player is Jaromir Jagr, who ranks second all-time in points with 1,92Jagr played for eight different teams over his 24-year career and was known for his scoring ability and physical play.

Mark Messier is another legendary player who amassed a great number of points during his career. Messier ranks third all-time in points with 1,887 and was a key member of six Stanley Cup championship teams. He was also known for his leadership on and off the ice.

Gordie Howe, known as “Mr. Hockey,” was a dominant force during his career and ranks fourth all-time in points with 1,850. Howe played for the Detroit Red Wings for much of his career and was known for his physical play and scoring ability. He also played professionally until the age of 52, an impressive feat for any athlete.

Finally, Joe Sakic is another player who ranks among the all-time greats in terms of points. Sakic amassed 1,641 points during his career, good for ninth all-time. He played for the Colorado Avalanche for his entire career and was known for his skillful playmaking ability.

Frequently Asked Questions