Shot Prop Lab
Shots on Goal Projections for Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Expected shots on goal for every skater on tonight's slate, and the chance he clears 1.5, 2.5 and 3.5. Each number starts from the shooter's own attempt rate and accuracy, times the ice time we expect him to get at 5-on-5 and on the power play, then adjusts for the defenders he is likely to face and how well the opponent kills penalties.
9 games, 328 skaters · updated Oct 6, 5:50 PM ET · model shotprops-1.1.0. Projections, not picks: we do not see sportsbook lines.
Final: 312 skaters played. Projected 487 shots in total, actual 469. Of the 16 skaters we gave a 50%+ chance of 3+ shots, 10 got there (63%; projected 56%).
Most likely to get 3+ shots
- Alex DeBrincatDET vs OTT64% · 3.40
- Matt BoldyMIN @ BUF64% · 3.40
- Auston MatthewsTOR vs NSH61% · 3.26
- Tage ThompsonBUF vs MIN61% · 3.23
- Jack HughesNJD vs UTA59% · 3.14
- Kirill KaprizovMIN @ BUF59% · 3.13
Softest 5v5 matchups
- Dylan HollowaySTL @ CHI+11% (+0.18) · 2.46
- Jimmy SnuggerudSTL @ CHI+10% (+0.16) · 2.38
- Auston MatthewsTOR vs NSH+7% (+0.15) · 3.26
- Jack EichelVGK @ SEA+7% (+0.15) · 2.98
- William NylanderTOR vs NSH+8% (+0.13) · 2.70
- Mitch MarnerVGK @ SEA+7% (+0.12) · 2.50
Toughest 5v5 matchups
- Cole CaufieldMTL vs CAR−15% (−0.30) · 2.68
- Nick SuzukiMTL vs CAR−15% (−0.22) · 2.23
- Bobby McMannSEA vs VGK−8% (−0.15) · 2.29
- Dylan GuentherUTA @ NJD−7% (−0.15) · 2.99
- Clayton KellerUTA @ NJD−7% (−0.14) · 2.63
- Brandon MontourSEA vs VGK−7% (−0.13) · 2.21
Every skater, Oct 6
Games: NSH @ TOR 7:00 PM ET · CAR @ MTL 7:00 PM ET · OTT @ DET 7:00 PM ET · UTA @ NJD 7:00 PM ET · NYI @ NYR 7:30 PM ET · MIN @ BUF 7:00 PM ET · STL @ CHI 8:00 PM ET · VGK @ SEA 9:40 PM ET · FLA @ LAK 10:00 PM ET. Matchup is the 5-on-5 adjustment for the defenders he is expected to face and home ice (+5% = 5% more shots than his usual rate).
| Alex DeBrincatF · DET vs OTT | 3.40 | 83% | 64% | 44% | 21:36PP 3:16 | 9.0 | −4% | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matt BoldyF · MIN @ BUF | 3.40 | 83% | 64% | 44% | 22:24PP 4:07 | 8.6 | −4% | 7 |
| Auston MatthewsF · TOR vs NSH | 3.26 | 81% | 61% | 41% | 19:50PP 3:06 | 9.1 | +7% | 4 |
| Tage ThompsonF · BUF vs MIN | 3.23 | 81% | 61% | 40% | 20:09PP 3:29 | 8.9 | −3% | 9 |
| Jack HughesF · NJD vs UTA | 3.14 | 80% | 59% | 38% | 21:39PP 3:11 | 8.6 | −2% | 5 |
| Kirill KaprizovF · MIN @ BUF | 3.13 | 80% | 59% | 38% | 22:22PP 4:13 | 6.8 | −4% | 3 |
| Filip ForsbergF · NSH @ TOR | 3.12 | 80% | 59% | 38% | 20:19PP 4:13 | 8.1 | +3% | 2 |
| Dylan GuentherF · UTA @ NJD | 2.99 | 78% | 56% | 35% | 18:29PP 3:13 | 9.4 | −7% | 5 |
| Jack EichelF · VGK @ SEA | 2.98 | 78% | 56% | 35% | 20:46PP 3:25 | 7.7 | +7% | 2 |
| Steven StamkosF · NSH @ TOR | 2.77 | 74% | 51% | 31% | 19:52PP 4:10 | 6.6 | +3% | 3 |
| Bo HorvatF · NYI @ NYR | 2.77 | 74% | 51% | 30% | 19:26PP 3:32 | 8.4 | −2% | 2 |
| Patrick KaneF · CHI vs STL | 2.75 | 74% | 51% | 30% | 20:46PP 3:18 | 7.2 | +5% | 2 |
| Mika ZibanejadF · NYR vs NYI | 2.75 | 74% | 51% | 30% | 21:33PP 3:24 | 6.6 | +7% | 3 |
| Joel Eriksson EkF · MIN @ BUF | 2.74 | 74% | 50% | 30% | 20:53PP 4:02 | 7.6 | −4% | 0 |
| Timo MeierF · NJD vs UTA | 2.73 | 74% | 50% | 30% | 16:55PP 1:24 | 9.6 | −3% | 8 |
| Jack QuinnF · BUF vs MIN | 2.73 | 74% | 50% | 30% | 18:29PP 3:32 | 8.3 | −1% | 2 |
| William NylanderF · TOR vs NSH | 2.70 | 73% | 50% | 29% | 20:28PP 3:27 | 6.9 | +8% | 1 |
| Cole CaufieldF · MTL vs CAR | 2.68 | 73% | 49% | 29% | 20:16PP 3:45 | 8.3 | −15% | 1 |
| Clayton KellerF · UTA @ NJD | 2.63 | 72% | 48% | 27% | 20:20PP 3:10 | 7.7 | −7% | 3 |
| Darren RaddyshD · TOR vs NSH | 2.62 | 71% | 47% | 27% | 21:07PP 3:27 | 6.4 | +7% | 2 |
| Viktor ArvidssonF · DET vs OTTthin | 2.61 | 71% | 47% | 27% | 17:15PP 2:32 | 9.3 | −3% | 3 |
| Kirill MarchenkoF · TOR vs NSH | 2.61 | 71% | 47% | 27% | 18:07PP 3:05 | 7.5 | +8% | 3 |
| Pavel DorofeyevF · NYR vs NYI | 2.58 | 71% | 47% | 26% | 16:16PP 3:08 | 8.0 | +7% | 0 |
| Andrei SvechnikovF · CAR @ MTL | 2.57 | 71% | 47% | 26% | 16:57PP 4:11 | 8.1 | −3% | 3 |
| Sam BennettF · FLA @ LAK | 2.55 | 70% | 46% | 26% | 19:16PP 2:44 | 7.6 | −2% | 1 |
| Rasmus DahlinD · BUF vs MIN | 2.53 | 70% | 46% | 26% | 25:34PP 3:37 | 5.1 | −2% | 3 |
| Adrian KempeF · LAK vs FLA | 2.52 | 70% | 45% | 25% | 18:42PP 3:24 | 7.8 | −4% | 3 |
| Artemi PanarinF · LAK vs FLA | 2.52 | 70% | 45% | 25% | 19:55PP 4:03 | 6.2 | −3% | 4 |
| Mitch MarnerF · VGK @ SEA | 2.50 | 69% | 45% | 25% | 21:49PP 3:19 | 6.4 | +7% | 2 |
| Dylan HollowayF · STL @ CHI | 2.46 | 69% | 44% | 24% | 17:15PP 2:29 | 7.7 | +11% | 1 |
| Alex LaferriereF · LAK vs FLA | 2.46 | 69% | 44% | 24% | 18:22PP 2:10 | 8.1 | −3% | 3 |
| Sebastian AhoF · CAR @ MTL | 2.45 | 68% | 44% | 24% | 19:47PP 4:09 | 6.8 | −3% | 3 |
| John TavaresF · TOR vs NSH | 2.44 | 68% | 43% | 24% | 18:29PP 3:29 | 6.2 | +8% | 6 |
| Roman JosiD · NSH @ TOR | 2.43 | 68% | 43% | 23% | 25:41PP 3:58 | 4.9 | +4% | 1 |
| Quinton ByfieldF · LAK vs FLA | 2.40 | 68% | 43% | 23% | 20:05PP 2:52 | 6.7 | −3% | 0 |
| Alexis LafrenièreF · NYR vs NYI | 2.40 | 67% | 42% | 23% | 19:27PP 3:18 | 6.4 | +7% | 3 |
| Matthew SchaeferD · NYI @ NYR | 2.39 | 67% | 42% | 23% | 24:13PP 3:47 | 5.3 | −2% | 2 |
| Josh DoanF · BUF vs MIN | 2.38 | 67% | 42% | 22% | 18:21PP 3:18 | 7.4 | −2% | 0 |
| Jimmy SnuggerudF · STL @ CHI | 2.38 | 67% | 42% | 22% | 16:25PP 2:28 | 7.6 | +10% | 3 |
| Brady TkachukF · FLA @ LAK | 2.37 | 66% | 41% | 22% | 14:22PP 2:29 | 9.5 | −2% | 2 |
| Nick SchmaltzF · UTA @ NJD | 2.36 | 67% | 42% | 22% | 20:35PP 3:12 | 6.5 | −7% | 4 |
| Nikolaj EhlersF · CAR @ MTL | 2.36 | 67% | 41% | 22% | 17:05PP 3:59 | 7.8 | −2% | 3 |
| Quinn HughesD · MIN @ BUF | 2.35 | 66% | 41% | 22% | 28:42PP 4:16 | 4.5 | −4% | 1 |
| Lucas RaymondF · DET vs OTT | 2.35 | 66% | 41% | 22% | 21:15PP 3:13 | 6.3 | −4% | 6 |
| Carter VerhaegheF · FLA @ LAK | 2.31 | 66% | 40% | 21% | 18:53PP 2:05 | 6.9 | −1% | 2 |
| Logan StankovenF · CAR @ MTL | 2.30 | 65% | 40% | 21% | 17:39PP 2:16 | 7.9 | −2% | 1 |
| Bobby McMannF · SEA vs VGK | 2.29 | 65% | 40% | 21% | 17:11PP 1:39 | 8.3 | −8% | 3 |
| Jackson BlakeF · CAR @ MTL | 2.29 | 65% | 40% | 21% | 17:31PP 4:18 | 7.2 | −2% | 2 |
| Zach BensonF · BUF vs MIN | 2.28 | 65% | 40% | 21% | 20:09PP 3:20 | 6.3 | −2% | 2 |
| Matthew TkachukF · FLA @ LAK | 2.28 | 65% | 39% | 20% | 17:56PP 2:50 | 6.7 | −1% | 2 |
| Ryan O'ReillyF · NSH @ TOR | 2.26 | 65% | 39% | 20% | 21:44PP 3:57 | 5.5 | +4% | 1 |
| Anton FrondellF · CHI vs STL | 2.25 | 64% | 39% | 20% | 17:25PP 2:50 | 6.8 | +4% | 1 |
| Mark StoneF · VGK @ SEA | 2.25 | 64% | 39% | 20% | 19:53PP 3:21 | 5.4 | +7% | 4 |
| Nick SuzukiF · MTL vs CAR | 2.23 | 64% | 38% | 19% | 23:06PP 3:58 | 5.6 | −15% | 2 |
| Dylan CozensF · OTT @ DET | 2.22 | 64% | 38% | 19% | 16:39PP 2:44 | 7.6 | −4% | 1 |
| Jonathan MarchessaultF · NSH @ TOR | 2.22 | 63% | 38% | 19% | 17:18PP 3:23 | 6.1 | +4% | 2 |
| Brandon MontourD · SEA vs VGK | 2.21 | 63% | 38% | 19% | 23:17PP 2:08 | 5.8 | −7% | 0 |
| Tomas HertlF · VGK @ SEA | 2.20 | 63% | 38% | 19% | 15:11PP 3:06 | 6.9 | +6% | 3 |
| Sam ReinhartF · FLA @ LAK | 2.20 | 63% | 37% | 19% | 19:41PP 3:03 | 5.4 | −2% | 3 |
| Juraj SlafkovskýF · MTL vs CAR | 2.16 | 62% | 37% | 18% | 19:53PP 3:51 | 5.9 | −14% | 2 |
How the projections work
- 1. How often he shoots
- For each strength state (5-on-5, power play, shorthanded, other), we take the shooter's unblocked attempts per 60 minutes and the share of them that hit the net, from every game in roughly the last 14 months. Recent games count more (the weight halves every 8 months), and both numbers are shrunk toward the forward or defenseman average, so a hot week or a short history barely moves them. Missed shots recorded in a rink whose scorers log more misses than the league are scaled down using our arena scorer factors.
- 2. How much he will play
- Projected 5-on-5 time is a weighted average of his last 10 games, with the latest counting most. Power-play time is his share of his team's recent PP minutes times the PP time we expect tonight: the average of his team's recent PP time and the opponent's recent shorthanded time. The lineup is whoever dressed in the team's last game, or the forecast lineup when our matchup forecast has one.
- 3. Who he will face
- Every skater gets a 5-on-5 shot-suppression rating from a ridge regression on line changes (RAPM-style): unblocked attempts against while he is on the ice, adjusted for his teammates, the opponents and home ice, with every rating pulled toward zero. A shooter's matchup factor averages the opposing skaters' ratings, weighted by the minutes he is expected to share with each. Those minutes come from the matchup forecast (which knows the home coach has last change) when it is available; otherwise from each opponent's projected 5-on-5 time.
- 4. Power play and venue
- Power-play shots are scaled by the opponent's shots allowed per 60 while shorthanded, shrunk toward the league rate. Home teams shoot a little more at 5-on-5; the home and road split comes from the same regression.
- 5. From an average to a probability
- Shots in one game spread out more than a simple Poisson count, because ice time and role move from night to night. We use a negative binomial distribution whose extra spread was fit on last season's out-of-sample projections, then read off P(2+), P(3+) and P(4+) shots.
Last fit Oct 12: 1,480 games, 994 skaters rated.
How accurate is it?
Held-out test: Oct 7, 2025 – Apr 16, 2026
Every game in the test season was projected using only data from before that day, the way the live model works. Lineups were the players who dressed; ice time was projected, not known. Shots on goal are the official count (shootout attempts excluded), arena scorer factors came from the previous season, and the spread of the distribution was fit on the previous season. Lower log-loss is better. The live model scored 1.5332 against 1.5441 for a shots-per-game baseline given the same distribution (mean squared error 1.723 vs 1.757). Defender matchup ratings improved on the team-level adjustment by +0.00026 nats per projection (95% interval +0.00001 to +0.00053, resampling whole games); mean squared error 1.724 → 1.723. The gain also showed up in the tuning season. It is a real but very small effect. Even with perfect knowledge of who played against whom, the gain would be 0.0000: ice time and the shooter's own volume dominate.
| Model | Projections | Log-loss | Mean sq. error | Correlation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shots per game, last 12 months | 47,230 | 1.5441 | 1.757 | 0.441 |
| Shooter rate × projected ice time | 47,230 | 1.5352 | 1.730 | 0.455 |
| + opponent team 5v5 and penalty kill | 47,230 | 1.5335 | 1.724 | 0.458 |
| + defender ratings by expected matchup (live model) | 47,230 | 1.5332 | 1.723 | 0.458 |
| Hindsight: actual matchups (upper bound, not usable) | 47,230 | 1.5332 | 1.723 | 0.458 |
Show as a table
| Line | Bin | n | Projected | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2+ SOG | 0–10% | 169 | 7.7% | 9.5% |
| 2+ SOG | 10–20% | 3,633 | 16.6% | 16.2% |
| 2+ SOG | 20–30% | 8,907 | 25.3% | 22.9% |
| 2+ SOG | 30–40% | 9,632 | 34.9% | 32.8% |
| 2+ SOG | 40–50% | 8,016 | 44.8% | 43.5% |
| 2+ SOG | 50–60% | 6,692 | 55.0% | 54.5% |
| 2+ SOG | 60–70% | 5,722 | 64.6% | 64.7% |
| 2+ SOG | 70–80% | 3,375 | 74.5% | 74.8% |
| 2+ SOG | 80–90% | 1,067 | 83.0% | 84.7% |
| 2+ SOG | 90–100% | 17 | 90.9% | 100.0% |
| 3+ SOG | 0–10% | 11,961 | 6.5% | 5.9% |
| 3+ SOG | 10–20% | 13,994 | 14.6% | 13.7% |
| 3+ SOG | 20–30% | 8,264 | 24.6% | 23.8% |
| 3+ SOG | 30–40% | 6,282 | 34.8% | 35.5% |
| 3+ SOG | 40–50% | 3,719 | 44.6% | 44.1% |
| 3+ SOG | 50–60% | 2,071 | 54.7% | 56.7% |
| 3+ SOG | 60–70% | 826 | 63.6% | 66.7% |
| 3+ SOG | 70–80% | 112 | 73.1% | 72.3% |
| 3+ SOG | 80–90% | 1 | 80.2% | 0.0% |
| 4+ SOG | 0–10% | 30,086 | 4.1% | 3.8% |
| 4+ SOG | 10–20% | 9,863 | 14.5% | 14.8% |
| 4+ SOG | 20–30% | 4,442 | 24.3% | 24.4% |
| 4+ SOG | 30–40% | 2,020 | 34.6% | 34.6% |
| 4+ SOG | 40–50% | 695 | 43.7% | 44.7% |
| 4+ SOG | 50–60% | 116 | 53.6% | 57.8% |
| 4+ SOG | 60–70% | 8 | 61.8% | 75.0% |
FAQ
How are NHL shots on goal projections calculated?
Expected SOG = projected ice time at each strength × the shooter's shrunk shots-per-60 at that strength × a matchup factor. The matchup factor comes from the shot-suppression ratings of the opposing skaters he is expected to face at 5-on-5, and from the opponent's penalty kill on the power play. The probabilities come from a negative binomial distribution fit on last season.
Are these betting picks?
No. These are model projections. We do not see sportsbook lines and we do not recommend bets. A 60% projection still misses four times in ten, and the calibration section shows how the probabilities have held up.
How accurate are the projections?
We test the model the way it is used: for every game of a full held-out season, it only sees data from before that day. The methodology section on this page shows the log-loss against a simple shots-per-game baseline and a calibration chart. When we say 40%, it should happen about 40% of the time.
Is this the same SOG number as the daily projections table?
Yes. Tonight's shots on goal and time on ice in the daily fantasy projections table come from this model, so a skater shows the same expected SOG on both pages. On the first graded nights of the season it beat the provider projection it replaced on squared error, log-loss and correlation with actual shots.
Does the opposing defense pair really matter?
Somewhat, and less than ice time and the shooter's own volume. The page reports how much the matchup factor improves accuracy over a team-level adjustment, and how repeatable the defender ratings are from one half of the games to the other. Most matchup factors land between 0.9 and 1.1.
When do the projections update?
Overnight, after the previous night's games, and again during the day as lineups settle. Players who did not dress in their team's last game are left out until they do, so check confirmed lines before puck drop.
Why is a player I expected missing?
The lineup comes from the team's most recent game (or the matchup forecast when it has one). A player returning from injury or a healthy scratch is not projected until he dresses again.