SV%

Sports abbreviation · Ice Hockey

SV%
Stands forSave percentage
CategoriesSports

SV% stands for Save percentage, an ice hockey abbreviation.

Share of shots on goal a goaltender stops: saves divided by shots against, written as a three-digit decimal such as .915. It is the most cited measure of goaltending quality.

Example: His .932 SV% in the playoffs carried the team to the Final.

Usage notes

League-average save percentage has hovered around .900 to .910 in recent seasons. Save percentage counts only shots on goal, not missed or blocked attempts. Goaltenders' even-strength SV% is considered a purer measure than overall SV%.

More ice hockey abbreviations

  • A – Assists
  • AAV – Average annual value
  • C – Center (American football)
  • CF% – Corsi for percentage
  • D – Defenseman
  • EBUG – Emergency backup goaltender
  • ELC – Entry-level contract
  • ENG – Empty-net goal
  • ES – Even strength
  • FO% – Faceoff percentage
  • G – Goals
  • GAA – Goals against average

See all 36 ice hockey abbreviations →