Winners and Losers from the 2023-24 NHL Regular Season | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Scoring in the NHL has been on the rise over the past eight seasons. It's not surprising, therefore, that goaltending stats have suffered as a result.

In 2015-16, the average save percentage reached .915 for the second straight season, the highest since 1963-64 when it reached .916. The highest ever was .919 in 1955-56, the first season the NHL tracked save percentage.

Meanwhile, the average goals-against average (GAA) was 2.51. That tied 2001-02's average and was the second-lowest in the post-expansion era to 2003-04's 2.46.

Since 2015-16, however, the average GAA has risen, while the save percentage is dropping. This season's 2.91 GAA is slightly better than 2022-23's 2.97 and 2021-22's 2.92, but it's still at a level not seen since 1995-96's 3.04. Meanwhile, the save percentage is at .903, the lowest since 2005-06's .901.

In 2015-16, 14 goaltenders with at least 40 games played had save percentages of .920 or higher. Seventeen had goals-against averages between 2.06 and 2.40.

It's a different story this season. Of the goalies with at least 40 games played, Carolina's Pyotr Kochetkov, Florida's Sergei Bobrovsky and Winnipeg's Connor Hellebuyck are the only ones whose goals-against averages are under 2.40. As for the save percentage, Hellebuyck (.922) is the only one above .920.

Today's game is played at a higher pace by skaters who are faster and better conditioned, with composite sticks that provide more flexibility enabling them to shoot quicker and harder with greater accuracy. They're also willing to shoot from almost anywhere, attempting goals from sharper angles than their predecessors.