1. What is Goals Against Average?

GAA (Goals Against Average) is a statistic used in ice hockey and other sports to measure a goaltender's performance. It represents the average number of goals a goaltender allows per 60 minutes of playing time.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the GAA formula:

Where:

• \( goals\_against \) — Total number of goals allowed by the goaltender
• \( minutes\_played \) — Total time the goaltender was on the ice (in minutes)
• 60 — Standard game length in minutes (normalization factor)

Explanation: The formula normalizes the goals allowed to a standard 60-minute game for fair comparison between goaltenders.

3. Importance of GAA Calculation

Details: GAA is a key metric for evaluating goaltender performance. Lower values indicate better performance. It's used for player comparisons, contract negotiations, and game strategy decisions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the total goals allowed and total minutes played by the goaltender. Both values must be positive numbers (minutes played must be greater than 0).

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good GAA in professional hockey?
A: In the NHL, a GAA below 2.50 is generally considered excellent, while above 3.00 is typically below average.

Q2: Does GAA account for team defense?
A: No, GAA reflects the combined performance of the goaltender and their team's defense. It doesn't isolate the goaltender's skill.

Q3: How does GAA differ from save percentage?
A: Save percentage measures the percentage of shots stopped, while GAA measures goals allowed per game. Both are important metrics.

Q4: Can GAA be calculated for partial games?
A: Yes, the calculator works for any amount of playing time, even if less than a full game.

Q5: Why use 60 minutes as the standard?
A: A regulation NHL game is 60 minutes of playing time (three 20-minute periods), making it the natural benchmark.