What Are Points in Hockey? Goals vs. Points Explained
September 12, 2024
Hockey is a fast-paced, high-energy sport, and understanding how performance is measured can enhance your appreciation of the game. One of the key metrics used to evaluate players is points. In hockey, points are awarded not only for scoring goals but also for assisting in goals scored by teammates. This statistic provides a comprehensive view of a player's offensive contributions, offering insights into how they impact the game beyond just getting the puck into the net.
But what exactly are points in hockey? And how do they differ from goals? In this article, we’ll break down what points are, how they’re scored, and why they matter. Additionally, we’ll clarify the relationship between goals and points to give you a deeper understanding of hockey’s scoring system.
What Are Points in Hockey?
In hockey, points serve as a measurement of a player’s offensive output, encompassing both goals and assists. Whenever a player scores a goal, they are credited with a point. Similarly, when a player helps set up a goal by assisting the goal-scorer, they also earn a point. The total number of points a player accumulates reflects their overall contribution to their team’s scoring efforts.
Points are one of the most important statistics in hockey. Not only do they determine individual accolades, such as the Art Ross Trophy for the most points in a season, but they also provide a key metric for comparing player performance across teams and eras. A high point total indicates a player is not just a goal-scorer but also someone who creates opportunities for others to score, making them a more versatile asset on the ice.
Goals vs. Points: Hockey Scoring
Hockey’s scoring system is straightforward when it comes to goals, but points introduce a broader view of a player's offensive contributions. While a goal is the direct result of a player successfully shooting the puck into the opponent's net, a point is a cumulative statistic that takes into account both goals and assists.
Goals are scored when the puck crosses the goal line into the net, and this is the primary method by which teams win games. Every goal is worth one point on the scoreboard. The player who scores the goal is credited with one point in their personal statistics. The simplicity of this scoring method is part of what makes hockey so engaging—fans can easily follow along as their team works to increase their goal tally and, ultimately, win the game.
However, points go beyond just goals. Points also include assists, which are awarded to the players who helped set up the goal. The two players who last passed or touched the puck before the goal-scorer may each receive an assist, giving them one point each. This is known as a "primary assist" (for the player who directly set up the goal) and a "secondary assist" (for the player who contributed earlier in the play but still had an impact on the goal being scored).
Thus, for any given goal, up to three players can receive points: the goal-scorer and the two players who assisted. This is why you often hear about high-scoring games with multiple players accumulating points, even if not everyone is scoring goals themselves.
How Are Points Scored in Hockey?
Understanding how points are scored in hockey requires a closer look at the rules governing goals and assists. Here’s a detailed breakdown:
- Goals: A player earns a point for every goal they score. Goals can be the result of a variety of offensive plays, including slap shots, wrist shots, tip-ins, deflections, and even accidental goals (where the puck unintentionally ricochets off a player’s body or equipment into the net). Regardless of how the goal is scored, the player who touched the puck last before it crossed the goal line is credited with the point.
- Assists: An assist is given to the players who help make the goal happen, even if they don't directly score. If a player passes the puck to the eventual goal-scorer, they receive a primary assist. If another player passed the puck to the player who made the final pass, they get a secondary assist. Both types of assists are worth one point each. Assists reward players who contribute to the team’s offensive play by creating goal-scoring opportunities, making assists as valuable as goals in terms of a player's points tally.
For example, consider this sequence: Player A passes the puck to Player B, who then passes to Player C. Player C takes the shot and scores. In this case, Player C (the goal-scorer) gets one point for the goal, Player B gets a point for the primary assist, and Player A gets a point for the secondary assist. All three players are awarded points, reflecting their contributions to the successful play.
In some cases, a goal may have only one assist, if only one player directly set up the scoring chance. And in rare situations, a goal may not have any assists, such as when a player scores unassisted after intercepting the puck from an opponent.
The Difference Between Goals and Points
While goals are the most visible and celebrated form of scoring in hockey, points offer a broader perspective on a player's offensive capabilities. Here’s how they differ:
- Goals are individual scoring events. A player must be the one who actually shoots the puck into the net to be credited with a goal. While goals are undeniably important, they don’t tell the full story of a player's contribution to the team’s offensive efforts.
- Points, on the other hand, provide a more complete picture. By factoring in both goals and assists, points acknowledge the team nature of hockey. Players who don’t score as many goals but consistently set up scoring plays can still accumulate a high point total. This makes points a more inclusive and comprehensive statistic than goals alone.
For example, a player who scores 25 goals in a season but also tallies 50 assists will have 75 points. Another player with 40 goals but only 10 assists will have 50 points. While the latter player may have more goals, the former player has made a greater overall offensive impact through their assists, which is reflected in their higher point total.
In conclusion, points in hockey are a fundamental part of how players’ offensive contributions are measured. Goals may be the most exciting aspect of the game, but assists are equally important, and together they form the basis for points. Points help fans and analysts evaluate the true value of a player’s performance, highlighting not just individual goal-scoring ability but also a player’s capacity to work as part of a team and create scoring opportunities for others.
If you’re interested in diving deeper into the world of hockey, Cheltenham Sports also offers a Roller & Ball Hockey program, providing an excellent opportunity to hone your skills in a different format of the game.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. Can a player get points without scoring a goal?
Yes, a player can earn points without scoring a goal by assisting in the scoring of goals. When a player contributes to a goal by making a pass or play that leads directly to the score, they are credited with an assist, which counts as a point.
2. What are points used for in hockey statistics?
Points are used to evaluate a player's offensive effectiveness and overall contribution to their team’s success. They are crucial for player rankings, award considerations, and historical records. Points also play a role in contract negotiations, trades, and Hall of Fame considerations.
3. What is an assist in hockey?
An assist is a point awarded to a player who helps set up a goal. There can be two types of assists on a single goal: the primary assist (the last pass to the goal-scorer) and the secondary assist (the pass before the primary assist). Both are equally valuable in terms of points.
Understanding how points in hockey work allows fans to appreciate the complexities of the sport and see beyond just the goals to the collaborative efforts that make hockey such a team-oriented game.