NHL power-play stats by team

Special teams are the minutes when one side is shorthanded. Last season the average power play scored on 21.1% of its chances and the average penalty kill held 78.9%.

How is power-play percentage calculated?

Power-play goals divided by power-play opportunities. Five goals from 20 chances is 25%. A team that draws many penalties can score plenty of power-play goals with an ordinary percentage, so look at both columns.

What makes a good penalty kill?

Penalty-kill percentage is the share of times shorthanded without allowing a goal. Above 82% is good, below 75% is a problem. Shorthanded goals for the killing team are a bonus that the percentage ignores.

Do special teams hold up?

Early in a season both numbers swing hard, because a team gets only three or four chances a game. By the halfway point they are much steadier. See the penalty kill and the special teams standings.