NHL Record for Highest Goals-against Average in a Season
Quebec Bulldogs holds the NHL record with 7.375 goals against per game (1919-20).
Top of the list
| Rank | Team | Goals against per game | Season | Team | GP | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quebec Bulldogs | 7.375 | 1919-20 | QBD | 24 | 91 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 6.2 | 1943-44 | NYR | 50 | 162 |
| 3 | Washington Capitals | 5.575 | 1974-75 | WSH | 80 | 181 |
| 4 | Hamilton Tigers | 5.5 | 1920-21 | HAM | 24 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | 5.36 | 1943-44 | BOS | 50 | 223 |
| 6 | Detroit Red Wings | 5.188 | 1985-86 | DET | 80 | 266 |
The full top 50
| Rank | Team | Goals against per game | Season | Team | GP | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quebec Bulldogs | 7.375 | 1919-20 | QBD | 24 | 91 |
| 2 | New York Rangers | 6.2 | 1943-44 | NYR | 50 | 162 |
| 3 | Washington Capitals | 5.575 | 1974-75 | WSH | 80 | 181 |
| 4 | Hamilton Tigers | 5.5 | 1920-21 | HAM | 24 | 92 |
| 5 | Boston Bruins | 5.36 | 1943-44 | BOS | 50 | 223 |
| 6 | Detroit Red Wings | 5.188 | 1985-86 | DET | 80 | 266 |
| 7 | Ottawa Senators (1917) | 5.182 | 1917-18 | SEN | 22 | 102 |
| 8 | Toronto Arenas | 5.111 | 1918-19 | TAN | 18 | 64 |
| 9 | Quebec Nordiques | 5.088 | 1989-90 | QUE | 80 | 240 |
| 10 | New York Rangers | 5.06 | 1942-43 | NYR | 50 | 161 |
| 11 | Hartford Whalers | 5.038 | 1982-83 | HFD | 80 | 261 |
| 12 | Vancouver Canucks | 5.013 | 1984-85 | VAN | 80 | 284 |
| 13 | Winnipeg Jets (1979) | 5 | 1980-81 | WIN | 80 | 246 |
| 14 | Toronto Arenas | 4.955 | 1917-18 | TAN | 22 | 108 |
| 15 | New York Rangers | 4.94 | 1944-45 | NYR | 50 | 154 |
| 16 | San Jose Sharks | 4.929 | 1992-93 | SJS | 84 | 218 |
| 17 | Washington Capitals | 4.925 | 1975-76 | WSH | 80 | 224 |
| 17 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4.925 | 1982-83 | PIT | 80 | 257 |
| 19 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4.875 | 1983-84 | PIT | 80 | 254 |
| 20 | Los Angeles Kings | 4.863 | 1985-86 | LAK | 80 | 284 |
| 21 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4.838 | 1983-84 | TOR | 80 | 303 |
| 22 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4.825 | 1985-86 | TOR | 80 | 311 |
| 23 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4.813 | 1984-85 | PIT | 80 | 276 |
| 24 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4.75 | 1981-82 | TOR | 80 | 298 |
| 25 | Ottawa Senators | 4.726 | 1993-94 | OTT | 84 | 201 |
| 26 | Montréal Canadiens | 4.708 | 1919-20 | MTL | 24 | 129 |
| 27 | Ottawa Senators | 4.702 | 1992-93 | OTT | 84 | 202 |
| 28 | Los Angeles Kings | 4.7 | 1983-84 | LAK | 80 | 309 |
| 29 | Winnipeg Jets (1979) | 4.675 | 1983-84 | WIN | 80 | 340 |
| 29 | New Jersey Devils | 4.675 | 1985-86 | NJD | 80 | 300 |
| 31 | Hartford Whalers | 4.65 | 1980-81 | HFD | 80 | 292 |
| 31 | Winnipeg Jets (1979) | 4.65 | 1985-86 | WIN | 80 | 295 |
| 33 | Calgary Flames | 4.625 | 2026-27 | CGY | 8 | 17 |
| 34 | Los Angeles Kings | 4.613 | 1981-82 | LAK | 80 | 314 |
| 35 | New Jersey Devils | 4.6 | 1986-87 | NJD | 80 | 293 |
| 36 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4.588 | 1980-81 | TOR | 80 | 322 |
| 37 | Hamilton Tigers | 4.583 | 1922-23 | HAM | 24 | 81 |
| 38 | Chicago Blackhawks | 4.567 | 1946-47 | CHI | 60 | 193 |
| 39 | Los Angeles Kings | 4.563 | 1982-83 | LAK | 80 | 308 |
| 40 | Chicago Blackhawks | 4.538 | 1981-82 | CHI | 80 | 332 |
| 41 | Colorado Rockies | 4.525 | 1981-82 | CLR | 80 | 241 |
| 42 | Vancouver Canucks | 4.5 | 2026-27 | VAN | 10 | 30 |
| 43 | Los Angeles Kings | 4.488 | 1987-88 | LAK | 80 | 318 |
| 43 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 4.488 | 1989-90 | PIT | 80 | 318 |
| 43 | San Jose Sharks | 4.488 | 1991-92 | SJS | 80 | 219 |
| 46 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4.475 | 1984-85 | TOR | 80 | 253 |
| 46 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 4.475 | 1989-90 | TOR | 80 | 337 |
| 48 | Detroit Red Wings | 4.463 | 1984-85 | DET | 80 | 313 |
| 49 | New York Islanders | 4.449 | 1972-73 | NYI | 78 | 170 |
| 50 | Winnipeg Jets (1979) | 4.438 | 1988-89 | WIN | 80 | 300 |
Top 50 of 839 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.
About these records
Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.
Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.
Active players are flagged, so you can see who is climbing a list this season. For the milestones those players are chasing tonight, see the milestone watch.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the NHL record for highest goals-against average in a season?
Quebec Bulldogs holds the NHL record for highest goals-against average in a season with 7.375 (1919-20).