Assist

An assist is awarded to the player or players (maximum of two) who touched the puck prior to the goal, provided no defender plays or possesses the puck in between.

Game Played

A player receives credit for playing in a game if i) he steps on the ice during time played or; ii) serves any penalty.

Game-Winning Goal

After the final score has been determined, the goal which leaves the winning Club one goal ahead of its opponent is the game-winning goal (example: if Team A beats Team B 8-3, the player scoring the fourth goal for Team A receives credit for the game-winning goal).

Game-Tying Goal

The final goal in a tie game.

Goal

A goal is awarded to the last player on the scoring Club to touch the puck prior to the puck entering the net.

Goals-Against Average

Multiply goals allowed (GA) by 60 and divide by minutes played (MIN).

Goaltender

A goaltender receives a win, tie or loss if he is on the ice when either the game-winning or game-tying goal is scored.

Penalty-Killing Percentage

Subtract total number of power-play goals allowed from total number of shorthanded situations to get total number of power-plays killed. Divide the total number of power-plays killed by the total number of shorthanded situations.

Playoff Format

The Stanley Cup Playoffs consists of 16 teams, eight from each conference. The format is a set bracket that is largely division-based with wild cards. The top three teams in each division will make up the first 12 teams in the playoffs. The remaining four spots will be filled by the next two highest-placed finishers in each conference, based on regular-season record and regardless of division. It is possible for one division in each conference to send five teams to the postseason while the other sends just three.

The seeding of the wild-card teams within each divisional playoff is determined by regular-season points. The division winner with the most points in the conference is matched against the wild-card team with the fewest points; the division winner with the second-most points in the conference plays the wild-card team with the second-fewest points. The teams finishing second and third in each division play in the first round of the playoffs. The winners of each series play for berths in the conference championship series. The winners of the conference championships advance to the Stanley Cup Final.

Home-ice advantage through the first two rounds goes to the team that placed higher in the regular-season standings. In the Conference Finals and Stanley Cup Final, home-ice advantage goes to the team that had the better regular-season record - regardless of the teams' final standing in their respective divisions.

All series are best-of-seven.

Playoff Tie-Breaking Formula

If two or more clubs are tied in points during the regular season, the standing of the clubs is determined in the following order:

1. The fewer number of games played (i.e., superior points percentage).
2. The greater number of games won, excluding games won in Overtime or by Shootout (i.e., 'Regulation Wins'). This figure is reflected in the RW column.
3. The greater number of games won, excluding games won by Shootout. This figure is reflected in the ROW column.
4. The greater number of games won by the Club in any manner (i.e., 'Total Wins'). This figure is reflected in the W column.
5. The greater number of points earned in games against each other among two or more tied clubs. For the purpose of determining standing for two or more Clubs that have not played an even number of games with one or more of the other tied Clubs, the first game played in the city that has the extra game (the 'odd game') shall not be included. When more than two Clubs are tied, the percentage of available points earned in games among each other (and not including any 'odd games') shall be used to determine standing.
6. The greater differential between goals for and against (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the DIFF column.
7. The greater number of goals scored (including goals scored in Overtime or awarded for prevailing in Shootouts) for the entire regular season. This figure is reflected in the GF column.

NOTE: In standings a victory in a shootout counts as one goal for, while a shootout loss counts as one goal against.

Power Play Percentage

Total number of power-play goals divided by total number of power-play opportunities.

Save Percentage

Save percentage is determined by dividing saves by shots faced.

Shooting Percentage

Divide the number of goals scored by the number of shots taken.

Shorthanded Goal

A goal scored by a Club while it is at a manpower disadvantage. The same cases apply for shorthand as for power-play goals, but in the opposite manner.

Shot on Goal

If an attacking player shoots, tips or deflects the puck so that it goes into the net, or would have gone in the net had the goaltender not stopped it, it is recorded as a "shot on goal."

Shutout

If two goaltenders combine for a shutout, neither receives credit for the shutout. Instead it is recorded as a Club shutout.

Tenths of a Second

If a penalty or goal occurs in the last minute, the time is rounded off to the previous second (eg: if a penalty is called with 12.4 seconds left in a period, the time is indicated as 19:47 and not 19:48).