How it is calculated: The +/- statistic determines how many goals a player has given up on the ice, and how many goals a player has scored or helped on goals scored. This is calculated by taking the total goals scored during a game minus the total goals given up during the game. If a team has given up 3 goals and scored 2, they will have a plus-minus of +2.
How is Plus-Minus Calculated in the NHL?
A player’s plus minus is a rating that evaluates how well they are performing in their own end and what scoring is happening while they are on the ice. If a player is on the ice and their team scores an even-strength goal or shorthanded goal, they will get a point added to their plus-minus. If the other team scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal, they will get the point subtracted from their plus-minus.
How Important is Plus-Minus in Hockey?
Plus-minus is one of the most important statistics in ice hockey because it helps judge how good players are at protecting the opponents goal and scoring chances against. However, this only represents one part of the game, which can be misrepresented by the situations that a certain player faces during the game.
What are Hockey Scenarios to Keep in Mind for this Stat?
The plus-minus is not a stat that can be directly applied to any situation or player. Plus-minus is a team statistic and does not apply to an individual player. An individual player’s plus-minus numbers are only recorded during even-strength situations and are not influenced by the team’s situation.
Fans might argue that the plus-minus rating is flawed because pulling the goalie can hurt a team’s chances of winning. But this is a much less common viewpoint. This viewpoint is used to argue that the plus-minus rating is flawed because the statistic does not take into account all of the factors that really impact a team’s chances to win. That argument is not a popular one, because we know that it’s not possible for a team to win a game without scoring a goal.
What are Examples Where the Stat Falls Flat?
To help even out the penalty kill to even-strength play, the team has placed more players on the power-play unit, which is working quite well.
The player will have a positive plus-minus when his team scores more than they give up. A negative plus-minus occurs when the player has a higher Corsi rating than his opponents, but the team gives up more goals than they score.
Likewise, players such as those who play on the third and fourth lines, can take shots against top lines of the opposing team, increasing their scoring chances and taking down their plus and minus ratings.
Do Power Plays Impact a +/- Score?
Powerplays are not included in a player’s plus and minus score, but if another team scores on a powerplay, it will count to their plus-minus stat line.
When Did the NHL Adapt the Plus-Minus Score?
The Montreal Canadiens were the first team to start tracking this stat. However, other teams soon started using this information to further understand a player’s impact on the ice. The next year the statistic would become an official statistic line.
What’s a Good Plus-Minus Value?
These are all good things for an injury-prone offensive defenseman. If you’re a good possession player, a negative plus-minus value isn’t so bad. But of course, that doesn’t always guarantee a player is a good possession player.
Most teams would still appreciate a player with a plus-minus rating of positive or negative because he brings a positive or negative aspect to the game. Teams may look at the actual numbers as a plus to him or another team may overlook them for the same reason.
Plus-Minus Leaders in History
Bobby Orr is the greatest defenseman of all time. It’s really easy to figure that out. I mean, what else would you call him? I got to give Bourque credit for being the best defenseman in Bruins history. He’s a leader of men. He led by example. He didn’t tell the players what to do or how to do it, but he did it. No question about it.
In the top ten plus-minus leaders, only three of the top ten are forwards. The biggest plus-minus leaders are all defencemen: Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr lead the way with +520 and +505 respectively. Bobby Clarke of the Los Angeles Kings, Ray Bourque of the Boston Bruins and Paul Coffey of the Edmonton Oilers follow behind them.
Was There an Award?
The winner is decided by the total points of the plus-minus statistic. The plus-minus is a statistic for the NHL that represents the difference between a team’s goals scored while the player is on the ice, and the goals against while that player is on the ice. It includes the team that the player is on as well as the team the player is against. For instance, Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty was on the bench for Montreal’s third period goal against the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 23, 2011. He had a plus-minus of plus-1.
Comparing a +/- Stat to Other Hockey Stats
A player’s plus-minus reflects how many goals a player allowed with him on the ice compared to the average player on the same team. If a player allows one goal with him on the ice, then with only two players on the ice, one can be expected to at least be a point-per-60 minutes.
In a league where shots against are the biggest factor in determining wins, it is important to look at ice time and to see if a player is getting more shots than his teammates on a night when he is having a poor defensive game. For example, a defenseman having a terrible game in the defensive zone could prevent his teammates from getting to the net, and therefore they should see fewer shots than usual.
Conclusion: What is a Plus-Minus in Hockey
Hockey experts use a plus and minus stat, which judges how much a player is contributing to a team’s offense and defense with his play on the ice. Players should have as high of a plus and minus as possible, because high numbers mean they’re on the ice when goals are scored and goals are not allowed. However, many factors distort this stat, so it’s essential to use additional stats to judge a player’s impact on a team.
