Alright, Oilers fans, let's be honest. Sometimes listening to a hockey broadcast or diving into a deep stats thread can feel like you need a decoder ring. "Corsi," "Fenwick," "PDO"—what does it all mean? These advanced stats are tools used to dig deeper into the game beyond just goals and assists. They help paint a clearer picture of team performance, player impact, and even predict future success. Whether you're analyzing a Connor McDavid shift or the Oilers' latest playoff push, understanding these terms will level up your hockey IQ. Let's break down the glossary.
Corsi (CF%)
Corsi measures total shot attempts for and against a team or player when they are on the ice at even strength. It counts all shots on goal, missed shots, and blocked shots. A positive Corsi percentage (above 50%) generally indicates a team is controlling the play and generating more offensive pressure, which is a key indicator of sustainable success over a long NHL season.
Fenwick (FF%)
Fenwick is very similar to Corsi but excludes blocked shots, counting only shots on goal and missed shots. The idea is that blocked shots can be a somewhat random or high-skill defensive event, so Fenwick aims to measure "unblocked" shot attempts. For a team like the Oilers, a high Fenwick often means their skilled players are getting pucks through traffic toward the net.
PDO
PDO is the sum of a team's or player's on-ice shooting percentage and save percentage at even strength. The result is almost always very close to 100 over a large sample, as it regresses toward that mean. A PDO significantly above 100 suggests a player or team might be getting lucky, while one below 100 might indicate they're due for a bounce. It's a quick "luck" or sustainability meter.
Expected Goals (xG)
Expected Goals is a stat that assigns a probability, or "quality," to every unblocked shot attempt based on historical data of similar shots (location, shot type, rebound, etc.). It helps answer "how many goals should have been scored?" rather than just how many were. It's great for analyzing if a player like Leon Draisaitl is scoring on high-danger chances or if Stuart Skinner is outperforming the quality of shots he's facing.
High-Danger Chances (HDCF)
This refers to shot attempts taken from the most dangerous areas on the ice, typically the slot and the inner crease. The National Hockey League tracks these to measure the quality of scoring opportunities. A team dominating high-danger chances is usually controlling the game's most critical real estate, a must for any deep Stanley Cup run.
Goals For Percentage (GF%)
This is a simple but crucial stat: the percentage of total goals scored while a player is on the ice at even strength. If Connor McDavid is on the ice for 10 goals for and 5 against, his GF% is 66.7%. It’s the bottom-line result of all that possession and shot generation.
Relative Metrics (e.g., CF% Rel)
Relative stats measure a player's impact compared to his teammates. For example, Corsi Relative (CF% Rel) shows how the team's shot attempt share changes when a specific player is on the ice versus when he's on the bench. A high positive number means the team drives play significantly better with that player out there.
Zone Starts (Offensive Zone Start Percentage - OZS%)
This tracks the percentage of a player's even-strength shifts that begin with a faceoff in the offensive zone versus the defensive or neutral zone. Coaches like Kris Knoblauch often deploy defensive specialists with more defensive zone starts to handle tough matchups, freeing up offensive stars like McDavid to start more shifts in the attacking end.
Points Share (PS)
A historical stat that estimates the number of standings points contributed by a player. It’s a way to quantify a player's overall value to their team's success in the standings, often used in historical comparisons or MVP discussions like those for the Hart Memorial Trophy.
Game Score
A single-game performance metric that aggregates a player's contributions (goals, assists, shots, blocks, faceoffs, etc.) into one number. It's a handy tool for quickly identifying who had the biggest impact on a single night at Rogers Place.
Wins Above Replacement (WAR) / Goals Above Replacement (GAR)
These are catch-all metrics that estimate a player's total value, in wins or goals, compared to a replacement-level (think AHL call-up) player. It incorporates offensive, defensive, and even penalty differential impacts into one number to measure a player's overall worth.
On-Ice Shooting Percentage (oiSH%)
The shooting percentage of a player's team while he is on the ice at even strength. A very high oiSH% for a player like Connor Brown might not be sustainable, while an unusually low one for a star could indicate he's suffering from poor puck luck.
On-Ice Save Percentage (oiSV%)
The save percentage of a player's team while he is on the ice at even strength. A low oiSV% can make a defensively responsible player look bad, as it reflects the goalie's performance behind them. It's a key component of PDO.
Penalty Differential
The difference between penalties drawn and penalties taken. A positive differential means a player draws more penalties than they take, giving their team more Power Play opportunities. This is a huge asset, as it puts the opponent on the defensive and unleashes a team's top offensive units.
Quality of Competition (QoC)
A metric that attempts to measure the average skill level of opponents a player faces. It helps contextualize other stats; putting up great numbers against another team's top line is more impressive than doing so against their fourth line.
Quality of Teammates (QoT)
Similar to QoC, this estimates the average skill level of a player's most frequent linemates. It helps answer whether a player's success is due to their own skill or being carried by elite teammates.
Scoring Chances For (SCF)
The count of scoring chances a team generates while a player is on the ice. A scoring chance is typically defined as a shot from a dangerous area. It's a step more selective than Fenwick but not as precise as Expected Goals.
Rush Chances
Shot attempts that occur off the rush, meaning in transition before the defense is fully set. This is a critical category for a team with the speed of Edmonton, as Connor McDavid is arguably the most dangerous rush player in the world.
Cycle Chances
Shot attempts generated from sustained offensive zone pressure and puck cycling below the goal line. This measures a different, more grinding style of offensive generation compared to rush chances.
Slot Shots
Shots attempted from the central high-danger area between the faceoff dots and in front of the net. Controlling slot shots is often a direct indicator of which team is winning the battle for the most important ice.
Defensive Zone Giveaways
This tracks turnovers committed by a player in their own defensive third. Minimizing these is crucial for limiting high-quality chances against and is a key focus for any coach in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Controlled Zone Entries/Exits
Measures how often a player carries or passes the puck into the offensive zone (entry) or out of the defensive zone (exit) with control, as opposed to just dumping it in or out. Success here is a hallmark of skilled, puck-possession teams.
Faceoff Win Percentage (FO%)
The percentage of faceoffs a player wins. While important, its overall impact is sometimes debated. Winning a key defensive zone draw, however, can be the difference between clearing the zone and a goal against in a tight playoff game.
Hits
The number of body checks a player delivers. While it measures physical engagement, it doesn't always correlate with positive play, as a team often hits more when they don't have possession of the puck.
Blocked Shots (BLK)
The number of shot attempts a player prevents from reaching the net by getting in the shooting lane. It's a measure of defensive sacrifice and is vital on the penalty kill.
So, there you have it—your cheat sheet to the world of advanced hockey analytics. These stats aren't meant to replace the eye test but to enhance it. They help explain why a line is dominating, if a hot streak is sustainable, or how a depth player like Connor Brown is impacting the game beyond the scoresheet. As you follow the Oilers' quest for the Stanley Cup, these tools can give you a deeper appreciation for the chess match happening on the ice. For more on how the numbers define greatness, check out our Connor McDavid career stats breakdown, and for all the latest from the team, head to our Oilers news hub.
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