For hockey fans, understanding the standings and how they work is crucial to following their favorite teams’ progress. One key metric that is used in calculating hockey standings is the goal differential or “diff” for short. This metric can make a significant difference in a team’s overall standing in the league.
In this article, we’ll delve into the mystery of what diff in hockey standings means, how it’s calculated, and why it matters. We’ll also take a closer look at the role of goals for and goals against in hockey standings and explain how they tie into the diff metric.
If you’ve ever been confused by how hockey standings work or why one team might be ranked higher than another despite having the same number of wins, then keep reading to discover the answers to these questions and more.
Table of Contents
Understanding the NHL Standings Format
Whether you’re a die-hard hockey fan or a casual observer, understanding the NHL standings format can be a bit confusing at times. Here’s a breakdown of how the NHL standings work and what they mean for your favorite team.
At the top of the standings, you’ll find the division leaders, with the teams in order based on their total number of points. The next set of teams listed are the wild card teams, which are the two teams in each conference with the best record that didn’t win their division.
Points and Regulation Wins
Points are the primary factor in determining a team’s ranking in the NHL standings, with two points awarded for a win and one point for an overtime or shootout loss. The total number of wins a team has is also taken into consideration, with regulation wins being the first tiebreaker.
Goal Differential
The goal differential, or “diff,” is another important factor in the NHL standings. It represents the difference between the number of goals a team has scored and the number of goals they’ve given up. A high diff can be an indication of a strong offense or a solid defense, or both.
- Power Play Percentage: The percentage of power play opportunities that a team has successfully converted into goals.
- Penalty Kill Percentage: The percentage of penalties that a team has successfully killed off without giving up a goal.
- Head-to-Head Records: When two teams have the same number of points, their head-to-head record during the season is used to determine their ranking in the standings.
Final Thoughts
Understanding the NHL standings format can seem like a daunting task, but with a little bit of knowledge, you’ll be able to follow your favorite team’s progress with ease. Keep these key factors in mind and you’ll be well on your way to understanding how the NHL standings work.
The Role of Goals For and Goals Against in Hockey Standings
When it comes to NHL standings, two important statistics are goals for and goals against. These numbers play a crucial role in determining a team’s rank and playoff eligibility.
Goals for represent the total number of goals a team scores throughout the regular season, while goals against represent the total number of goals they allow. A team’s goal differential is calculated by subtracting the goals against from the goals for. This statistic is a strong indicator of a team’s overall performance, and is often used as a tiebreaker in the standings.
How Goals For and Goals Against Affect Standings
- Teams with a high goal differential are typically ranked higher in the standings than those with a lower differential.
- If two or more teams have the same number of points, goal differential is used as the first tiebreaker to determine rank.
- Teams with a high number of goals for are often seen as more aggressive and effective on the offensive end, while teams with a low number of goals against are seen as strong defensively.
Other Factors That Affect Standings
While goals for and goals against are important factors in determining a team’s rank, there are other factors that also play a role. These can include:
- Number of wins and losses
- Points earned in overtime or shootout games
- Head-to-head record against other teams
Understanding how goals for and goals against impact NHL standings is essential for fans and bettors alike. By keeping an eye on these statistics, you can better predict a team’s performance and make more informed decisions when placing bets.
What Is Goal Differential and How Is It Calculated?
Goal differential is a key metric used in hockey standings to determine a team’s overall performance throughout a season. It is calculated by subtracting the total number of goals scored against a team from the total number of goals they have scored.
The goal differential is an important statistic because it provides an objective measure of how well a team is performing compared to their opponents. A team with a positive goal differential has scored more goals than they have allowed, while a team with a negative goal differential has allowed more goals than they have scored.
How Is Goal Differential Used in Standings?
In the National Hockey League (NHL), goal differential is used as a tiebreaker in the standings if two or more teams have the same number of points at the end of the regular season. The team with the highest goal differential is ranked higher in the standings.
However, goal differential is not the primary tiebreaker used in the NHL. The first tiebreaker is the total number of wins a team has, followed by the number of points earned in games between the tied teams, and then goal differential.
Examples of Goal Differential in Action
- If Team A has scored 200 goals and allowed 150 goals against them, their goal differential would be +50.
- If Team B has scored 100 goals and allowed 150 goals against them, their goal differential would be -50.
- If two teams have the same number of points at the end of the regular season, but Team A has a higher goal differential than Team B, Team A would be ranked higher in the standings.
Overall, goal differential is an important metric that provides insight into a team’s overall performance and is used as a tiebreaker in the NHL standings. It is calculated by subtracting the total number of goals scored against a team from the total number of goals they have scored, and is a key factor in determining a team’s rank in the standings.
Why Goal Differential Can Make or Break a Team’s Season
Goal differential can be the determining factor in a team’s success or failure in the sport of hockey. It is a key statistic that measures the difference between the number of goals a team has scored versus the number of goals they have allowed over the course of a season. This simple calculation can provide valuable insights into a team’s overall performance, as well as their strengths and weaknesses.
While winning games is the ultimate goal, a team’s goal differential can often reveal more about their true level of play. For example, a team with a strong record but a low goal differential may have been lucky in close games, while a team with a poor record but a high goal differential may have been unlucky or suffered from poor goaltending. As such, goal differential is an important metric that can help coaches and players identify areas for improvement and adjust their strategies accordingly.
How is goal differential calculated?
To calculate a team’s goal differential, you simply subtract the number of goals they have allowed from the number of goals they have scored. For example, if a team has scored 100 goals and allowed 80 goals over the course of a season, their goal differential would be +20 (100 – 80 = 20). Conversely, if a team has allowed more goals than they have scored, their goal differential would be negative.
Why is goal differential important?
Goal differential is important because it can be a better indicator of a team’s performance than their win-loss record alone. A team with a strong goal differential is typically a dominant team that wins games by a wide margin and has a strong chance of winning in the postseason. On the other hand, a team with a negative goal differential may struggle to win close games and may not be well-suited for playoff hockey. As such, goal differential is a key factor that is often used by analysts and fans to predict a team’s success or failure in the postseason.
How can teams improve their goal differential?
- Improve goaltending: Goaltending is often the most important factor in a team’s goal differential. Improving a team’s goaltending can help reduce the number of goals allowed and increase the number of saves made, which can have a significant impact on the team’s overall performance.
- Improve defensive play: Strong defensive play can help reduce the number of high-quality scoring chances allowed, which can in turn lead to fewer goals allowed and a higher goal differential.
- Increase scoring: Finally, increasing a team’s offensive output can help improve their goal differential. This can be achieved through a variety of means, such as improving the power play, increasing shots on goal, or simply focusing on finishing scoring chances.
By focusing on these key areas, teams can improve their goal differential and increase their chances of success in the sport of hockey.
The Top 5 NHL Teams with the Best Goal Differential in History
Goal differential is an important statistic in the NHL, and some teams have had impressive goal differentials over the years. Here are the top 5 NHL teams with the best goal differential in history:
1976-77 Montreal Canadiens
The 1976-77 Montreal Canadiens had a goal differential of +216, which is the highest in NHL history. Led by legends such as Guy Lafleur and Ken Dryden, the Canadiens dominated the league that season, winning the Stanley Cup and setting a record for most points in a season.
1983-84 Edmonton Oilers
The 1983-84 Edmonton Oilers had a goal differential of +132, which is the second-highest in NHL history. This team was led by Wayne Gretzky, who scored an incredible 205 points that season, and also featured other Hall of Famers such as Mark Messier and Paul Coffey.
1995-96 Detroit Red Wings
- The 1995-96 Detroit Red Wings had a goal differential of +131, which is the third-highest in NHL history. This team was led by Steve Yzerman and featured other talented players such as Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom.
- The Red Wings dominated the regular season that year, winning the Presidents’ Trophy with a record of 62-13-7, but ultimately fell short in the playoffs.
1970-71 Boston Bruins
- The 1970-71 Boston Bruins had a goal differential of +124, which is the fourth-highest in NHL history. This team was led by Bobby Orr, who had one of the greatest seasons in NHL history, scoring 139 points and winning his second straight Hart Trophy as league MVP.
- The Bruins went on to win the Stanley Cup that year, with Orr scoring the iconic “flying goal” in overtime of Game 4 of the Finals.
1984-85 Philadelphia Flyers
- The 1984-85 Philadelphia Flyers had a goal differential of +116, which is the fifth-highest in NHL history. This team was led by Tim Kerr, who scored an incredible 58 goals that season, and also featured other talented players such as Mark Howe and Pelle Lindbergh.
- The Flyers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals that year, but ultimately lost to the Edmonton Oilers in five games.
These teams all had impressive goal differentials and featured some of the greatest players in NHL history. While goal differential isn’t the only factor that determines a team’s success, it is certainly an important one, and these teams prove just how dominant a team can be when they outscore their opponents by a large margin.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Diff in Hockey Standings?
Diff in Hockey Standings refers to the goal differential of a hockey team, which is the difference between the number of goals they have scored and the number of goals they have allowed over the course of a season. It is a useful statistic to determine a team’s overall performance and their chances of making it to the playoffs.
How is Goal Differential Calculated?
Goal differential is calculated by subtracting the total number of goals allowed by a team from the total number of goals scored by the team. For example, if a team scored 200 goals and allowed 150 goals, their goal differential would be +50. If a team scored 150 goals and allowed 200 goals, their goal differential would be -50.
What is a Good Goal Differential?
A good goal differential in hockey is usually considered to be above +20. This means that the team has scored at least 20 more goals than they have allowed. Teams with a high goal differential are generally considered to be the best teams in the league and are more likely to make it to the playoffs.
Why is Goal Differential Important?
Goal differential is important because it can be used to determine a team’s overall performance and their chances of making it to the playoffs. Teams with a high goal differential are more likely to win games and make it to the playoffs, while teams with a low goal differential may struggle to win games and miss out on the playoffs.
What is the Highest Goal Differential in NHL History?
The highest goal differential in NHL history belongs to the 1976-1977 Montreal Canadiens, who had a goal differential of +21They scored a total of 387 goals and allowed only 171 goals in 80 games. This remains the highest goal differential in NHL history.
Has Goal Differential Predicted the Stanley Cup Winner?
Goal differential has been a good predictor of the Stanley Cup winner. In fact, 17 out of the last 20 Stanley Cup champions had a goal differential of at least +30 during the regular season. This shows that having a high goal differential is often a good indicator of a team’s overall performance and their chances of winning the championship.