Garbage-time filter

NHL Garbage-Time Points 2025-26: Who Pads Stats in Blowouts

Every NHL skater's 2025-26 points, split into close-game production and garbage time (the team already up or down by 3 or more). League-wide, 12% of points this season came in garbage time (2,634 of 21,741).

Data updated: Oct 4, 1:00 AM ET

Most garbage-time points

Most garbage-time points, 2025-26
Skater	Team	GP	PTS	Garbage	Up / down	Garbage %	Expected %	Close PTS/GP
Jason RobertsonL	DAL	82	96	20	15 / 5	21%	17%	0.93
Nikita KucherovR	TBL	76	130	20	15 / 5	15%	14%	1.45
Nathan MacKinnonC	COL	80	127	18	17 / 1	14%	14%	1.36
Kirill KaprizovL	MIN	78	89	15	8 / 7	17%	15%	0.95
Connor McDavidC	EDM	82	138	15	9 / 6	11%	11%	1.50
Matt BoldyL	MIN	76	85	14	7 / 7	16%	15%	0.93
Wyatt JohnstonC	DAL	82	86	14	11 / 3	16%	15%	0.88
Tomas HertlC	VGK	82	58	13	7 / 6	22%	17%	0.55
Darren RaddyshD	TBL	73	70	13	6 / 7	19%	16%	0.78
David PastrnakR	BOS	77	100	13	8 / 5	13%	13%	1.13
Martin NecasC	COL	78	100	13	10 / 3	13%	13%	1.12
Parker KellyC	COL	82	35	12	10 / 2	34%	20%	0.28
Alexis LafrenièreL	NYR	82	57	12	6 / 6	21%	16%	0.55
John CarlsonD	ANA	71	60	12	8 / 4	20%	16%	0.68
Connor BedardC	CHI	69	75	12	4 / 8	16%	14%	0.91
Mika ZibanejadC	NYR	81	78	12	7 / 5	15%	14%	0.81
Mitch MarnerR	VGK	81	80	12	5 / 7	15%	14%	0.84
Leon DraisaitlC	EDM	65	97	12	8 / 4	12%	12%	1.31
Mark ScheifeleC	WPG	82	103	12	4 / 8	12%	12%	1.11
Jack DruryC	COL	82	27	11	9 / 2	41%	21%	0.20
Oliver BjorkstrandR	TBL	80	32	11	6 / 5	34%	20%	0.26
Tyler ToffoliC	SJS	79	49	11	3 / 8	22%	17%	0.48
Bryan RustR	PIT	72	65	11	6 / 5	17%	15%	0.75
Pavel ZachaC	BOS	78	65	11	5 / 6	17%	15%	0.69
Filip ForsbergL	NSH	82	75	11	2 / 9	15%	14%	0.78

Highest share of points in garbage time, 2025-26
Skater	Team	GP	PTS	Garbage	Up / down	Garbage %	Expected %	Close PTS/GP
Jack DruryC	COL	82	27	11	9 / 2	41%	21%	0.20
Oliver BjorkstrandR	TBL	80	32	11	6 / 5	34%	20%	0.26
Parker KellyC	COL	82	35	12	10 / 2	34%	20%	0.28
Ross ColtonC	COL	73	24	8	6 / 2	33%	18%	0.22
Zeev BuiumD	VAN	76	26	8	0 / 8	31%	18%	0.24
Marat KhusnutdinovC	BOS	77	33	10	7 / 3	30%	19%	0.30
Noah LabaC	NYR	74	24	7	4 / 3	29%	17%	0.23
Mackie SamoskevichR	FLA	77	32	9	3 / 6	28%	18%	0.30
Noel AcciariC	PIT	67	25	7	5 / 2	28%	17%	0.27
Ryan PulockD	NYI	76	27	7	4 / 3	26%	16%	0.26
Gabe PerreaultR	NYR	49	27	7	3 / 4	26%	16%	0.41
Jean-Gabriel PageauC	NYI	74	35	9	3 / 6	26%	17%	0.35
Devon ToewsD	COL	68	24	6	5 / 1	25%	16%	0.26
Noah HanifinD	VGK	71	28	7	3 / 4	25%	16%	0.30
Nick BlankenburgD	COL	61	24	6	2 / 4	25%	16%	0.30
Michael BuntingL	DAL	74	33	8	3 / 5	24%	16%	0.34
Mark JankowskiL	CAR	68	21	5	4 / 1	24%	15%	0.24
Alex VlasicD	CHI	81	21	5	2 / 3	24%	15%	0.20
Philip BrobergD	STL	81	34	8	3 / 5	24%	16%	0.32
Connor DewarC	PIT	78	30	7	5 / 2	23%	16%	0.29
Fraser MintenC	BOS	82	35	8	4 / 4	23%	16%	0.33
Josh MansonD	COL	79	31	7	5 / 2	23%	16%	0.30
Tyler ToffoliC	SJS	79	49	11	3 / 8	22%	17%	0.48
Tomas HertlC	VGK	82	58	13	7 / 6	22%	17%	0.55
Anthony DuclairL	NYI	62	27	6	4 / 2	22%	15%	0.34

Cleanest scorers (30+ points, least garbage time)

Scorers with the least garbage-time production, 2025-26
Skater	Team	GP	PTS	Garbage	Up / down	Garbage %	Expected %	Close PTS/GP
Kirill MarchenkoR	CBJ	76	67	0	0 / 0	0%	6%	0.88
Brayden SchennC	NYI	80	39	0	0 / 0	0%	7%	0.49
Jordan StaalC	CAR	75	36	0	0 / 0	0%	8%	0.48
Ivan ProvorovD	CBJ	82	31	0	0 / 0	0%	8%	0.38
Cutter GauthierL	ANA	76	69	1	0 / 1	1%	6%	0.89
Ryan McLeodC	BUF	81	54	1	1 / 0	2%	7%	0.65
Jason ZuckerL	BUF	62	45	1	1 / 0	2%	8%	0.71
Mason MarchmentL	CBJ	68	45	1	0 / 1	2%	8%	0.65
Connor BrownR	NJD	75	43	1	1 / 0	2%	8%	0.56
Mike MathesonD	MTL	78	37	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.46
Travis SanheimD	PHI	81	37	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.44
Ryan PoehlingC	ANA	75	36	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.47
Sam SteelC	DAL	73	33	1	1 / 0	3%	9%	0.44
Damon SeversonD	CBJ	71	32	1	1 / 0	3%	9%	0.44
Dmitri VoronkovL	CBJ	63	32	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.49

All skaters (250, 10+ games)

All skaters, 2025-26
Skater	Team	GP	PTS	Garbage	Up / down	Garbage %	Expected %	Close PTS/GP
Connor McDavidC	EDM	82	138	15	9 / 6	11%	11%	1.50
Nikita KucherovR	TBL	76	130	20	15 / 5	15%	14%	1.45
Nathan MacKinnonC	COL	80	127	18	17 / 1	14%	14%	1.36
Macklin CelebriniC	SJS	82	115	9	2 / 7	8%	9%	1.29
Mark ScheifeleC	WPG	82	103	12	4 / 8	12%	12%	1.11
Nick SuzukiC	MTL	82	101	8	2 / 6	8%	9%	1.13
David PastrnakR	BOS	77	100	13	8 / 5	13%	13%	1.13
Martin NecasC	COL	78	100	13	10 / 3	13%	13%	1.12
Leon DraisaitlC	EDM	65	97	12	8 / 4	12%	12%	1.31
Jason RobertsonL	DAL	82	96	20	15 / 5	21%	17%	0.93
Evan BouchardD	EDM	82	95	8	2 / 6	8%	10%	1.06
Kyle ConnorL	WPG	82	92	11	4 / 7	12%	12%	0.99
Jack EichelC	VGK	74	90	8	4 / 4	9%	10%	1.11
Kirill KaprizovL	MIN	78	89	15	8 / 7	17%	15%	0.95
Jake GuentzelC	TBL	81	88	9	5 / 4	10%	11%	0.98
Clayton KellerR	UTA	82	88	10	9 / 1	11%	12%	0.95
Cole CaufieldR	MTL	81	88	6	2 / 4	7%	9%	1.01
Wyatt JohnstonC	DAL	82	86	14	11 / 3	16%	15%	0.88
Alex DeBrincatR	DET	82	85	6	2 / 4	7%	9%	0.96
Matt BoldyL	MIN	76	85	14	7 / 7	16%	15%	0.93
Artemi PanarinL	LAK	78	84	5	3 / 2	6%	9%	1.01
Tim StützleC	OTT	80	83	10	6 / 4	12%	12%	0.91
Zach WerenskiD	CBJ	75	81	3	1 / 2	4%	7%	1.04
Tage ThompsonC	BUF	81	81	8	6 / 2	10%	11%	0.90
Sebastian AhoC	CAR	79	80	4	3 / 1	5%	8%	0.96
Mitch MarnerR	VGK	81	80	12	5 / 7	15%	14%	0.84
William NylanderR	TOR	65	79	8	1 / 7	10%	11%	1.09
Cale MakarD	COL	75	79	8	7 / 1	10%	11%	0.95
Mika ZibanejadC	NYR	81	78	12	7 / 5	15%	14%	0.81
Lane HutsonD	MTL	82	78	4	1 / 3	5%	8%	0.90
Mikko RantanenR	DAL	64	77	7	4 / 3	9%	10%	1.09
Jack HughesC	NJD	61	77	8	2 / 6	10%	11%	1.13
Quinn HughesD	MIN	74	76	7	3 / 4	9%	10%	0.93
Lucas RaymondL	DET	80	76	6	5 / 1	8%	10%	0.88
Filip ForsbergL	NSH	82	75	11	2 / 9	15%	14%	0.78
Connor BedardC	CHI	69	75	12	4 / 8	16%	14%	0.91
Sidney CrosbyC	PIT	68	74	8	3 / 5	11%	11%	0.97
Ryan O'ReillyC	NSH	81	74	9	1 / 8	12%	12%	0.80
Nick SchmaltzC	UTA	82	74	10	9 / 1	14%	13%	0.78
Brandon HagelL	TBL	71	74	8	5 / 3	11%	11%	0.93
Rasmus DahlinD	BUF	77	74	9	6 / 3	12%	12%	0.84
Mark StoneR	VGK	60	73	10	5 / 5	14%	13%	1.05
Adrian KempeR	LAK	81	73	6	1 / 5	8%	10%	0.83
Dylan GuentherR	UTA	79	73	6	5 / 1	8%	10%	0.85
Juraj SlafkovskýL	MTL	82	73	7	3 / 4	10%	11%	0.80
Mathew BarzalC	NYI	81	72	9	5 / 4	13%	12%	0.78
John TavaresC	TOR	82	71	8	2 / 6	11%	12%	0.77
Nikolaj EhlersL	CAR	82	71	9	9 / 0	13%	12%	0.76
Jesper BrattL	NJD	82	71	9	1 / 8	13%	12%	0.76
Drake BathersonR	OTT	79	71	8	4 / 4	11%	12%	0.80
Darren RaddyshD	TBL	73	70	13	6 / 7	19%	16%	0.78
Andrei SvechnikovR	CAR	79	70	5	5 / 0	7%	9%	0.82
Gabriel VilardiC	WPG	82	69	9	4 / 5	13%	13%	0.73
Cutter GauthierL	ANA	76	69	1	0 / 1	1%	6%	0.89
Travis KonecnyR	PHI	77	68	6	2 / 4	9%	10%	0.81
Morgan GeekieC	BOS	81	68	7	4 / 3	10%	11%	0.75
Dylan LarkinC	DET	74	67	9	4 / 5	13%	13%	0.78
Kirill MarchenkoR	CBJ	76	67	0	0 / 0	0%	6%	0.88
Trevor ZegrasC	PHI	81	67	5	0 / 5	7%	10%	0.77
Leo CarlssonC	ANA	70	67	6	2 / 4	9%	10%	0.87
Steven StamkosC	NSH	82	66	5	3 / 2	8%	10%	0.74
Erik KarlssonD	PIT	75	66	8	4 / 4	12%	12%	0.77
Alex TuchR	BUF	79	66	9	6 / 3	14%	13%	0.72
Nico HischierC	NJD	82	66	5	0 / 5	8%	10%	0.74
Seth JarvisR	CAR	71	66	5	5 / 0	8%	10%	0.86
Matthew KniesL	TOR	79	66	6	2 / 4	9%	11%	0.76
Brock NelsonC	COL	81	65	9	8 / 1	14%	13%	0.69
Bryan RustR	PIT	72	65	11	6 / 5	17%	15%	0.75
Pavel ZachaC	BOS	78	65	11	5 / 6	17%	15%	0.69
Alex OvechkinL	WSH	82	64	10	5 / 5	16%	14%	0.66
Anthony ManthaR	PIT	81	64	7	5 / 2	11%	12%	0.70
Robert ThomasC	STL	64	64	9	4 / 5	14%	13%	0.86
Pavel DorofeyevR	VGK	82	64	10	5 / 5	16%	14%	0.66
Miro HeiskanenD	DAL	77	63	6	5 / 1	10%	11%	0.74
Tom WilsonR	WSH	72	62	7	4 / 3	11%	12%	0.76
Ivan DemidovR	MTL	82	62	6	2 / 4	10%	11%	0.68
Evgeni MalkinC	PIT	56	61	6	5 / 1	10%	11%	0.98
Sam ReinhartC	FLA	64	61	6	4 / 2	10%	11%	0.86
Ivan BarbashevL	VGK	82	61	8	3 / 5	13%	13%	0.65
Charlie McAvoyD	BOS	69	61	7	2 / 5	11%	12%	0.78
John CarlsonD	ANA	71	60	12	8 / 4	20%	16%	0.68
Jakob ChychrunD	WSH	80	60	6	1 / 5	10%	11%	0.68
Moritz SeiderD	DET	82	60	5	2 / 3	8%	10%	0.67
Beckett SenneckeR	ANA	82	60	5	1 / 4	8%	10%	0.67
Mikhail SergachevD	UTA	78	59	5	4 / 1	8%	10%	0.69
Brady TkachukL	OTT	60	59	7	5 / 2	12%	12%	0.87
Dylan CozensC	OTT	82	59	6	5 / 1	10%	11%	0.65
Adam FantilliC	CBJ	82	59	2	1 / 1	3%	8%	0.70
Will SmithC	SJS	69	59	8	3 / 5	14%	13%	0.74
Matthew SchaeferD	NYI	82	59	8	0 / 8	14%	13%	0.62
Charlie CoyleC	CBJ	82	58	4	3 / 1	7%	10%	0.66
Tomas HertlC	VGK	82	58	13	7 / 6	22%	17%	0.55
Tyler BertuzziL	CHI	79	58	8	2 / 6	14%	13%	0.63
Sam BennettC	FLA	76	58	9	4 / 5	16%	14%	0.64
Dylan StromeC	WSH	80	58	6	2 / 4	10%	11%	0.65
Jackson LaCombeD	ANA	82	58	5	1 / 4	9%	10%	0.65
Patrick KaneR	DET	67	57	2	0 / 2	4%	8%	0.82
Bo HorvatC	NYI	68	57	6	2 / 4	11%	11%	0.75
Troy TerryR	ANA	61	57	9	3 / 6	16%	14%	0.79
Alexis LafrenièreL	NYR	82	57	12	6 / 6	21%	16%	0.55
Ryan Nugent-HopkinsC	EDM	72	56	7	6 / 1	13%	12%	0.68
Luke EvangelistaR	NSH	81	56	7	1 / 6	13%	12%	0.60
Jordan EberleR	SEA	80	55	8	3 / 5	15%	13%	0.59
Roman JosiD	NSH	68	55	7	2 / 5	13%	12%	0.71
Carter VerhaegheC	FLA	77	55	9	5 / 4	16%	14%	0.60
Josh MorrisseyD	WPG	77	55	4	3 / 1	7%	10%	0.66
Alexander WennbergC	SJS	80	55	6	0 / 6	11%	12%	0.61
Brad MarchandL	FLA	52	54	4	1 / 3	7%	10%	0.96
Mats ZuccarelloR	MIN	59	54	5	1 / 4	9%	11%	0.83
Viktor ArvidssonL	BOS	69	54	10	3 / 7	19%	15%	0.64
Ryan McLeodC	BUF	81	54	1	1 / 0	2%	7%	0.65
Jake SandersonD	OTT	67	54	8	4 / 4	15%	13%	0.69
Vincent TrocheckC	NYR	67	53	8	4 / 4	15%	14%	0.67
J.T. MillerC	NYR	68	53	9	4 / 5	17%	14%	0.65
Auston MatthewsC	TOR	60	53	6	1 / 5	11%	12%	0.78
Adam FoxD	NYR	55	53	9	7 / 2	17%	14%	0.80
William EklundL	SJS	78	53	6	2 / 4	11%	12%	0.60
Jackson BlakeR	CAR	81	53	8	6 / 2	15%	14%	0.56
Zach HymanL	EDM	58	52	10	9 / 1	19%	15%	0.72
Anthony CirelliC	TBL	71	52	8	7 / 1	15%	14%	0.62
Aliaksei ProtasL	WSH	76	52	5	4 / 1	10%	11%	0.62
Josh DoanR	BUF	82	52	4	3 / 1	8%	10%	0.59
Christian DvorakC	PHI	80	51	6	2 / 4	12%	12%	0.56
Joel Eriksson EkC	MIN	70	51	4	2 / 2	8%	10%	0.67
Elias PetterssonC	VAN	74	51	8	2 / 6	16%	14%	0.58
Owen TippettR	PHI	81	51	8	2 / 6	16%	14%	0.53
Dylan HollowayL	STL	59	51	4	2 / 2	8%	10%	0.80
Jack QuinnR	BUF	82	51	3	2 / 1	6%	9%	0.59
Brock FaberD	MIN	80	51	5	4 / 1	10%	11%	0.57
Jimmy SnuggerudR	STL	70	51	5	2 / 3	10%	11%	0.66
Matvei MichkovR	PHI	81	51	8	3 / 5	16%	14%	0.53
Nazem KadriC	COL	77	50	6	1 / 5	12%	12%	0.57
Chris KreiderL	ANA	75	50	3	2 / 1	6%	9%	0.63
Shayne GostisbehereD	CAR	55	50	2	2 / 0	4%	8%	0.87
Brayden PointC	TBL	63	50	8	5 / 3	16%	14%	0.67
Matty BeniersC	SEA	82	50	9	3 / 6	18%	15%	0.50
Claude GirouxR	OTT	82	49	7	3 / 4	14%	13%	0.51
Marcus JohanssonL	MIN	75	49	4	1 / 3	8%	10%	0.60
Tyler ToffoliC	SJS	79	49	11	3 / 8	22%	17%	0.48
Chandler StephensonC	SEA	80	49	2	0 / 2	4%	9%	0.59
Valeri NichushkinR	COL	72	49	6	4 / 2	12%	12%	0.60
Filip HronekD	VAN	82	49	3	0 / 3	6%	9%	0.56
Quinton ByfieldR	LAK	79	49	3	2 / 1	6%	9%	0.58
Taylor HallL	CAR	80	48	6	3 / 3	13%	12%	0.53
Rickard RakellR	PIT	60	48	7	5 / 2	15%	13%	0.68
Pavel BuchnevichL	STL	81	48	3	1 / 2	6%	10%	0.56
Artturi LehkonenL	COL	70	48	8	7 / 1	17%	14%	0.57
Elias LindholmC	BOS	69	48	7	4 / 3	15%	13%	0.59
Brock BoeserR	VAN	75	48	9	2 / 7	19%	15%	0.52
Vladimir TarasenkoR	MIN	75	47	6	2 / 4	13%	12%	0.55
Rasmus AnderssonD	VGK	81	47	3	1 / 2	6%	10%	0.54
Noah CatesL	PHI	82	47	5	4 / 1	11%	11%	0.51
Noah DobsonD	MTL	80	47	3	1 / 2	6%	10%	0.55
JJ PeterkaR	UTA	82	47	10	8 / 2	21%	16%	0.45
Jordan KyrouR	STL	72	46	3	0 / 3	7%	10%	0.60
Connor McMichaelL	WSH	78	46	3	3 / 0	7%	10%	0.55
Shane PintoC	OTT	72	46	5	2 / 3	11%	12%	0.57
Bobby McMannC	SEA	78	46	9	5 / 4	20%	15%	0.47
Collin GrafR	SJS	81	46	3	1 / 2	7%	10%	0.53
Matt DucheneC	DAL	57	45	5	3 / 2	11%	12%	0.70
Jason ZuckerL	BUF	62	45	1	1 / 0	2%	8%	0.71
Mason MarchmentL	CBJ	68	45	1	0 / 1	2%	8%	0.65
Matt CoronatoR	CGY	80	45	7	3 / 4	16%	14%	0.47
Ryan LeonardR	WSH	75	45	8	5 / 3	18%	15%	0.49
Vince DunnD	SEA	81	44	3	0 / 3	7%	10%	0.51
Timo MeierR	NJD	77	44	4	0 / 4	9%	11%	0.52
Roope HintzC	DAL	53	44	4	4 / 0	9%	11%	0.75
Lawson CrouseL	UTA	81	44	6	4 / 2	14%	13%	0.47
Anton LundellC	FLA	64	44	4	3 / 1	9%	11%	0.63
Alex LaferriereR	LAK	82	44	4	3 / 1	9%	11%	0.49
Logan StankovenC	CAR	81	44	6	6 / 0	14%	13%	0.47
Mikael BacklundC	CGY	82	43	4	3 / 1	9%	11%	0.48
Connor BrownR	NJD	75	43	1	1 / 0	2%	8%	0.56
Andrew CoppC	DET	79	43	2	1 / 1	5%	9%	0.52
Ryan HartmanR	MIN	76	43	8	4 / 4	19%	15%	0.46
Morgan FrostC	CGY	82	43	6	3 / 3	14%	13%	0.45
Logan CooleyC	UTA	54	43	2	2 / 0	5%	9%	0.76
Zach BensonL	BUF	65	43	4	4 / 0	9%	11%	0.60
Anders LeeL	NYI	82	42	8	4 / 4	19%	15%	0.41
Tommy NovakC	PIT	82	42	6	4 / 2	14%	13%	0.44
Jake DeBruskL	VAN	81	42	5	1 / 4	12%	12%	0.46
Casey MittelstadtC	BOS	71	42	8	3 / 5	19%	15%	0.48
Bowen ByramD	BUF	82	42	4	1 / 3	10%	11%	0.46
Dawson MercerC	NJD	82	42	8	2 / 6	19%	15%	0.41
Egor ChinakhovR	PIT	72	42	5	2 / 3	12%	12%	0.51
Mattias EkholmD	EDM	82	41	9	5 / 4	22%	16%	0.39
Mikael GranlundC	ANA	58	41	5	1 / 4	12%	12%	0.62
Mattias SamuelssonD	BUF	78	41	3	3 / 0	7%	10%	0.49
Simon HolmstromR	NYI	79	41	7	3 / 4	17%	14%	0.43
Mavrik BourqueC	DAL	82	41	5	4 / 1	12%	12%	0.44
Mason McTavishC	ANA	75	41	3	1 / 2	7%	10%	0.51
Frank NazarC	CHI	66	41	4	1 / 3	10%	11%	0.56
Justin FaulkD	DET	78	40	4	1 / 3	10%	11%	0.46
Kevin FialaL	LAK	56	40	4	0 / 4	10%	11%	0.64
Jared McCannL	SEA	52	40	5	3 / 2	13%	12%	0.67
Kaapo KakkoR	SEA	65	40	5	2 / 3	13%	12%	0.54
Brandt ClarkeD	LAK	82	40	5	3 / 2	13%	12%	0.43
Sam MalinskiD	COL	82	40	7	3 / 4	18%	14%	0.40
Brayden SchennC	NYI	80	39	0	0 / 0	0%	7%	0.49
Oliver Ekman-LarssonD	TOR	78	39	4	0 / 4	10%	11%	0.45
Dougie HamiltonD	NJD	77	39	7	1 / 6	18%	14%	0.42
Shea TheodoreD	VGK	70	39	3	1 / 2	8%	10%	0.51
Peyton KrebsC	BUF	82	39	4	3 / 1	10%	11%	0.43
Matias MaccelliL	TOR	71	39	2	0 / 2	5%	9%	0.52
Anze KopitarC	LAK	67	38	6	2 / 4	16%	14%	0.48
Erik HaulaL	NSH	81	38	8	1 / 7	21%	16%	0.37
Boone JennerC	CBJ	67	38	3	0 / 3	8%	10%	0.52
Joel FarabeeL	CGY	82	38	6	1 / 5	16%	14%	0.39
Will CuylleL	NYR	82	38	7	5 / 2	18%	15%	0.38
Corey PerryR	TBL	72	37	2	0 / 2	5%	10%	0.49
Dmitry OrlovD	SJS	82	37	2	1 / 1	5%	10%	0.43
Mike MathesonD	MTL	78	37	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.46
Travis SanheimD	PHI	81	37	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.44
K'Andre MillerD	CAR	72	37	2	2 / 0	5%	10%	0.49
Vasily PodkolzinR	EDM	82	37	5	3 / 2	14%	13%	0.39
Oliver KapanenC	MTL	82	37	5	2 / 3	14%	13%	0.39
Matt SavoieC	EDM	82	37	6	3 / 3	16%	14%	0.38
Jordan StaalC	CAR	75	36	0	0 / 0	0%	8%	0.48
Jamie BennL	DAL	60	36	4	4 / 0	11%	12%	0.53
Sean CouturierC	PHI	78	36	6	2 / 4	17%	14%	0.38
Morgan RiellyD	TOR	78	36	3	0 / 3	8%	11%	0.42
Sean MonahanC	CBJ	78	36	2	1 / 1	6%	10%	0.44
Max DomiC	TOR	80	36	7	2 / 5	19%	15%	0.36
Jack RoslovicC	EDM	69	36	7	1 / 6	19%	15%	0.42
John MarinoD	UTA	80	36	3	2 / 1	8%	11%	0.41
Eeli TolvanenR	SEA	78	36	3	1 / 2	8%	11%	0.42
Ryan PoehlingC	ANA	75	36	1	0 / 1	3%	9%	0.47
Kiefer SherwoodL	SJS	72	36	3	1 / 2	8%	11%	0.46
Thomas HarleyD	DAL	70	36	6	6 / 0	17%	14%	0.43
Ilya MikheyevR	CHI	77	36	4	3 / 1	11%	12%	0.42
Jake NeighboursL	STL	69	36	5	2 / 3	14%	13%	0.45
Brent BurnsD	COL	82	35	6	4 / 2	17%	14%	0.35
Blake ColemanL	CGY	69	35	2	2 / 0	6%	10%	0.48
Jean-Gabriel PageauC	NYI	74	35	9	3 / 6	26%	17%	0.35
Gabriel LandeskogL	COL	60	35	6	5 / 1	17%	14%	0.48
Teuvo TeravainenC	CHI	75	35	3	3 / 0	9%	11%	0.43
Jacob TroubaD	ANA	81	35	3	1 / 2	9%	11%	0.40
Tony DeAngeloD	NYI	76	35	4	3 / 1	11%	12%	0.41
Michael AmadioR	OTT	81	35	3	0 / 3	9%	11%	0.40
Ryan SheaD	PIT	80	35	6	5 / 1	17%	14%	0.36
Vladislav GavrikovD	NYR	82	35	5	2 / 3	14%	13%	0.37
Parker KellyC	COL	82	35	12	10 / 2	34%	20%	0.28
Linus KarlssonC	VAN	79	35	2	0 / 2	6%	10%	0.42
Marco RossiC	VAN	50	35	6	1 / 5	17%	14%	0.58
Justin SourdifC	WSH	78	35	3	3 / 0	9%	11%	0.41
Ridly GreigC	OTT	77	35	2	1 / 1	6%	10%	0.43
Luke HughesD	NJD	68	35	4	0 / 4	11%	12%	0.46
Fraser MintenC	BOS	82	35	8	4 / 4	23%	16%	0.33
Ben KindelC	PIT	77	35	2	2 / 0	6%	10%	0.43
Kris LetangD	PIT	74	34	5	3 / 2	15%	13%	0.39

Methodology

For every goal we look at the score just before it went in. A goal or assist counts as garbage time when the scorer's team was already up by 3 or more, or down by 3 or more. The goal that makes it 3–0 is not garbage time; the one that makes it 4–0 is. Shootout goals are excluded.

League-wide in 2025-26, 2,634 of 21,741 skater points (12.1%) came in garbage time.

A skater's garbage-time share does not carry over from one season to the next. Among 226 skaters with 30+ points in both 2024-25 and 2025-26, the correlation was r = 0.03, which is essentially zero. A high share is not a skill or a role: it's a sign that the point total is partly score-driven and should be regressed toward the close-game rate. The "Expected share" column does that, shrinking toward the league rate with 60 points of prior.

Usage by score state for tonight's games: game-script forecast.

Frequently asked questions

What counts as garbage time in hockey?

Here, any goal or assist scored when the player’s team was already leading or trailing by 3 or more goals before the goal. The goal that makes it 3–0 is not garbage time; the next one is.

How many NHL points come in garbage time?

In 2025-26, 12.1% of all skater points (2,634 of 21,741).

Is scoring in garbage time a skill?

Not one that repeats. A player’s garbage-time share in 2024-25 told us almost nothing about 2025-26 (r = 0.03, 226 skaters with 30+ points in both). Treat a high share as inflated production, and lean on the close-game points per game.

How should I use this in fantasy hockey?

Before you buy a hot scorer, check how much of the run came in blowouts. Close-game points per game is the steadier number. Players on bad teams often pile up "down 3" points late in lost games.