# NHL question. +/- player points. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 13, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813 "2005-02-13T00:46:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/1 "2005-02-13T00:46:26Z")
So during a season I’ll see the stat of +/- points for a player. I know part of it is goals and assists, but there has to be another factor I’m not thinking of. For instance, I’ve seen players for a game have 1 G and 3 A but end up with a +5. What’s going on? ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/2 "2005-02-13T00:51:40Z")
Points are given if a player is on the ice when his team scores, and player points are taken away when his team gives up a goal. The specifics elude me right now - I really haven’t been following the NHL as of late. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/3 "2005-02-13T00:54:42Z")
> [@](#): > > Plus-Minus > A player is awarded a “plus” each time he is on the ice when his Club scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal. He receives a “minus” if he is on the ice for an even-strength or shorthanded goal scored by the opposing Club. The difference in these numbers is considered the player’s “plus-minus” statistic. From here: [http://nhl.com/nhlhq/faq/go\_figure.html](http://nhl.com/nhlhq/faq/go_figure.html) ---
**Author:** ![colour\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@colour\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colour_wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/4 "2005-02-13T00:55:39Z")
You get a + for each goal that your team scores at even strength while you are on the ice. You get a - for each goal that is scored against your team at even strength while you are on the ice. If there is a power play, +/- does not change. ---
**Author:** ![colour\_wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@colour\_wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/colour_wolf)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/5 "2005-02-13T00:58:41Z")
> [@](#): > > A player is awarded a “plus” each time he is on the ice when his Club scores an even-strength or shorthanded goal. He receives a “minus” if he is on the ice for an even-strength or shorthanded goal scored by the opposing Club. Huh. I did not know that. I thought all power play goals did not change +/-. Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Dignan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@Dignan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dignan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/6 "2005-02-13T01:33:10Z")
> [@colour wolf](#): > > Huh. I did not know that. I thought all power play goals did not change +/-. Thanks If you are on the powerplay and your team scores, then you don’t get a +. If you are on the powerplay, and the shorthanded team scores a shorthanded goal, then you receive a minus, and the shorthanded players receive a plus. You aren’t penalized (or rewarded) when you have a man down (advantage). If you score when you are a man down, then you are rewarded with a plus, because it’s harder to score. This way you can look at the +/- stat and figure out who is on the ice when goals are scored. Obviously it’s a much bigger deal if a player is on the ice when a shorthanded is scored for his side than if a goal is scored against his side. I miss hockey. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2005, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/7 "2005-02-13T02:33:55Z")
OK, now I get it. Thanks for the info. [sub]Come back, Penguins![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Greenback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/2bfe46/32.png) [@Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greenback)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2005, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nhl-question-player-points/289813/8 "2005-02-14T17:10:51Z")
To add a little tidbit of info to this thread (I just want to post in a hockey thread): The NHL record for best plus/minus rating in a year is +124. It was set by Bobby Orr in '70-'71. Not too shabby being on the ice for 124 more goals for than against.