What Does SA Mean in NHL Statistics? A Complete Breakdown of “Shots Against” in Hockey

The Simple Definition

SA = Shots Against.

In hockey, SA represents the total number of shots on goal a goalie faces in a game, a period, or across a season.
Every time an opposing player directs a puck on target, and the goalie must make a save or the puck goes in the net, it counts as a shot against.

It’s a direct measure of how much pressure a goaltender faced from the opposing team.

• ✅ If the shot is saved or becomes a goal → it counts as SA.
• ❌ If it misses the net, hits the post, or is blocked by a defender before reaching the goalie → it does not count as SA.

Understanding SA in the Goalie’s Stat Line

A standard goalie stat table might look like this:

Each column means:

• SA (Shots Against): Total number of shots faced.
• SV (Saves): How many of those shots were stopped.
• GA (Goals Against): How many got through.
• SV% (Save Percentage): Ratio of saves to total shots faced.

The Mathematical Connection: How SA Determines Save Percentage

Save Percentage (SV%) is entirely based on SA.

The formula is:

Let’s use a quick example.

If a goalie faces 30 shots (SA = 30) and allows 3 goals (GA = 3):

That means the goalie stopped 90% of all shots faced, or in NHL terms, his SV% is .900.

So SA doesn’t just show workload — it’s the denominator that gives context to every save and goal allowed.

Why SA Matters More Than You Think

While fans often focus on a goalie’s save percentage or goals against average (GAA), SA is the foundation of both.
Without knowing how many shots a goalie faced, you can’t interpret the rest of the numbers meaningfully.

Here’s what SA helps measure:

1. Goalie workload

A goaltender who faces 45 shots in a game is working far harder than one who sees only 20. Even if both allow two goals, the first faced more than double the pressure.

2. Team defense quality

A high SA usually reflects a weak defense that allows opponents to generate too many chances.
Low SA suggests strong defensive structure, good forechecking, and puck control.

3. Game pace and style

Some games naturally produce more shots — for example, when both teams play aggressively or have poor neutral-zone defense. SA is a window into the game’s rhythm.

A goaltender with high SA but excellent SV% shows elite concentration and endurance — performing well even when constantly under attack.

Example: Comparing Two Performances

Even though the second game includes more goals allowed, the goalie’s SV% actually improved because he faced much more action.
This demonstrates why context — especially SA — matters when interpreting raw stats.

How SA Interacts with Other Goalie Stats

To see the bigger picture, here’s how SA connects with other abbreviations in the box score:

Each stat tells a slightly different part of the same story. SA and SV% measure volume and efficiency, while GAA adjusts for time played. Together they define a goaltender’s consistency and reliability.

What Counts as a “Shot Against” — and What Doesn’t?

The NHL has very specific rules for defining SA.
Let’s look at a few examples that often confuse fans:

These details matter for analytics and betting alike — especially for live shot totals or goalie prop bets.

SA and Advanced Hockey Analytics

In the modern NHL era, SA is no longer just a raw count.
It forms the base layer for advanced goaltending models such as:

1. Expected Goals Against (xGA)

xGA adjusts SA by the quality of shots.
A long wrister from the blue line and a one-timer from the slot both count as SA, but the second one has a far higher chance of becoming a goal.

Analytics systems (like Evolving-Hockey, Natural Stat Trick, or MoneyPuck) use SA data plus shot coordinates, speed, and pre-shot movement to compute xGA and High-Danger Save Percentage (HDSV%).

2. High-Danger vs. Low-Danger SA

Not all shots are equal.

• High-Danger SA: Shots from close range or cross-slot passes — high probability of scoring.
• Low-Danger SA: Long, low-angle shots, often just to create rebounds.

A goalie with high total SA but low high-danger SA often benefits from strong defensive positioning in front of the net.

3. Rebound control and SA clustering

SA also helps track rebound tendencies — how often shots lead to second-chance attempts.
Goalies who control rebounds reduce effective SA over time, improving both SV% and GAA indirectly.

4. Score effects

Teams trailing late in games usually take more risks and generate higher SA totals against the opposing goalie.
Understanding this helps separate contextual pressure from defensive breakdowns.

Historical Perspective: SA Through the Eras

SA trends have changed dramatically across NHL history.

• 1980s: Games averaged 70–80 combined shots; goalies regularly faced 35–40 SA.
• 2000s (Dead Puck Era): Defensive systems tightened; SA per goalie dropped to around 25–28.
• Modern Era (2020s): Pace increased again with more stretch passes and rush chances — average SA per game is now back to 30–33.

Elite modern goalies like Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck, and Igor Shesterkin consistently face heavy workloads but maintain high SV%, showing how improved conditioning and technique have evolved the position.

SA and Fantasy Hockey Insights

In fantasy hockey formats that count goalie stats, SA can be a hidden weapon.
Why? Because a goalie who faces many shots often earns more saves, boosting total categories even if they allow a few goals.

For instance:

• Goalie A: 18 SA, 2 GA → SV% .889 → 16 saves
• Goalie B: 42 SA, 4 GA → SV% .905 → 38 saves

Goalie B earns more fantasy points despite more goals allowed, simply because he made more saves.

Fantasy managers often look for goalies behind weaker defenses — more SA means more opportunities to accumulate counting stats (SV, SV%, even SO if the goalie stands on his head).

SA and Sports Betting Applications

Sports bettors also analyze SA closely, particularly in live betting and props:

1. Goalie Save Props – If a team historically allows 33+ SA per game, betting the goalie’s over saves can have value.
2. Game Total Goals (Over/Under) – High SA on both sides may suggest a more offensive game and potential “Over”.
3. Team Defense Matchups – Comparing team SA allowed per game gives clues about pace and shot quality trends.

Example:
If the Montreal Canadiens allow 34.5 SA per game (ranked 25th) and face a top-10 offense, expect the opposing goalie to have a busy night.

Common Misconceptions About SA

❌ “A high SA means the goalie played poorly.”

Not always.
High SA usually reflects team defense, not individual goaltending weakness. Some of the best performances come in games with 40+ shots faced.

❌ “All SA are equal.”

No — the NHL only records shots on goal, but the danger level varies dramatically.
Analytics break down SA by zones and pre-shot movement for more context.

❌ “SA doesn’t matter if SV% is good.”

Actually, it does. Sustained high SA over time increases fatigue and injury risk, impacting long-term performance.

Combining SA With GAA for Deeper Insight

While SV% is efficiency-based, GAA (Goals Against Average) measures goals allowed per 60 minutes.
Together with SA, they tell you both how often a goalie faces shots and how well he handles them.

Example:

Goalie B might be more impressive, because he performs well despite facing 13 extra shots per game.

Real-World Analytics: SA and Team Metrics

Teams also use SA to evaluate defensive systems:

• Shot suppression: How well the team limits total SA per 60 minutes.
• Slot control: How few high-danger SA come from the inner slot.
• Penalty kill exposure: Shorthanded teams naturally see higher SA — top penalty kills minimize quality shots.

For example, the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars often rank near the top in fewest SA per game, while teams with looser defensive play (like the San Jose Sharks) consistently allow 35–40 SA or more.

SA vs. SOG — Key Difference

Many fans confuse SA (Shots Against) with SOG (Shots on Goal).
The concepts are almost identical but differ by perspective:

When a team takes 30 SOG, the opposing goalie (if he plays the entire game) will have 30 SA. They are mirror statistics.

Final Thoughts

So, what does SA mean in hockey?

It stands for Shots Against — the total number of shots on goal that a goaltender faces during a game or season.
It measures workload, defensive quality, and game tempo — and directly determines Save Percentage (SV%).

Understanding SA helps you:

• Evaluate how much pressure a goalie faced.
• Compare performances beyond goals allowed.
• Analyze team defensive structure.
• Make smarter fantasy and betting decisions.

In short: SA tells you how busy a goalie really was.

A strong save percentage with high SA isn’t just good — it’s elite.