Counting stats
NHL Goals per Game Leaders
2017-18All situationsThrough 82 team games
Alex Ovechkin (WSH) leads NHL skaters with a G/GP of 0.60 in 2017-18, ahead of 
Auston Matthews (TOR) (0.55).
Leaders: Goals per Game, 2017-18
- 1stAlex OvechkinWSH · 82 GP0.60
- 2ndAuston MatthewsTOR · 62 GP0.55
3rdEvgeni MalkinPIT · 78 GP0.54
4thPatrik LaineWPG · 82 GP0.54
5thNathan MacKinnonCOL · 74 GP0.53
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What Goals per Game measures
This board ranks NHL skaters by goals per game played, all situations, this season. Players under the minimum sample are hidden, and every row shows the games or minutes behind the number. Goals per game played, all situations, this season.
Rates settle faster than totals but need games or minutes: early in the season, part-time players swing the most. A row needs at least 33 games to qualify, a bar that rises as the season goes on, so early leaders with a handful of games do not crowd the top.
Per game puts players who missed games on equal footing with those who played them all. Goals scored this season, every situation including the power play and empty nets. The goal race swings more than the points race, because shooting percentage runs hot and cold. In 2017-18, 628 skaters qualify for this board; the median is 0.13 and Alex Ovechkin leads at 0.60.
Goals per Game leaderboard
| # | Player | Team | G/GP | GP | G | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex OvechkinFWSH | WSH | 0.60 | 82 | 49 | 100 | 88%▼4 |
| 2 | Auston MatthewsFTOR | TOR | 0.55 | 62 | 34 | 100 | 99% |
| 3 | Evgeni MalkinFPIT | PIT | 0.54 | 78 | 42 | 100 | 84%▼1 |
| 4 | Patrik LaineFWPG | WPG | 0.54 | 82 | 44 | 100 | 8.1% |
| 5 | Nathan MacKinnonFCOL | COL | 0.53 | 74 | 39 | 99 | 100% |
| 6 |  William KarlssonFVGK | VGK | 0.52 | 82 | 43 | 99 | 20%▲1 |
| 7 |  Taylor HallFNJD | NJD | 0.51 | 76 | 39 | 99 | 34%▼7.9 |
| 8 |  Eric StaalFMIN | MIN | 0.51 | 82 | 42 | 99 | — |
| 9 |  Connor McDavidFEDM | EDM | 0.50 | 82 | 41 | 99 | 100% |
| 10 |  Brad MarchandFBOS | BOS | 0.50 | 68 | 34 | 99 | 65%▼2.8 |
| 11 |  Anders LeeFNYI | NYI | 0.49 | 82 | 40 | 98 | 29%▼0.6 |
| 12 |  Tyler SeguinFDAL | DAL | 0.49 | 82 | 40 | 98 | 20%▲1.8 |
| 13 |  Nikita KucherovFTBL | TBL | 0.49 | 80 | 39 | 98 | 100% |
| 14 |  Patrice BergeronFBOS | BOS | 0.47 | 64 | 30 | 98 | — |
| 15 |  Brock BoeserFVAN | VAN | 0.47 | 62 | 29 | 98 | 59%▼1.3 |
| 16 |  John TavaresFNYI | NYI | 0.45 | 82 | 37 | 98 | 92%▼2.6 |
| 17 |  James van RiemsdykFTOR | TOR | 0.44 | 81 | 36 | 97 | 0.3% |
| 18 |  Rickard RakellFANA | ANA | 0.44 | 77 | 34 | 97 | 70%▼6.3 |
| 19 |  Jamie BennFDAL | DAL | 0.44 | 82 | 36 | 97 | 17%▼1.7 |
| 20 |  Logan CoutureFSJS | SJS | 0.44 | 78 | 34 | 97 | — |
| 21 |  Anze KopitarFLAK | LAK | 0.43 | 82 | 35 | 97 | 0.4% |
| 22 |  David PastrnakFBOS | BOS | 0.43 | 82 | 35 | 97 | 100% |
| 23 |  Sean MonahanFCGY | CGY | 0.42 | 74 | 31 | 96 | 16%▼0.9 |
| 24 |  Claude GirouxFPHI | PHI | 0.41 | 82 | 34 | 96 | 32%▲0.9 |
| 25 |  Phil KesselFPIT | PIT | 0.41 | 82 | 34 | 96 | — |
Minimum sample: 33 games (it scales with games played). 262 below the minimum are hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in Goals per Game in 2017-18?
Alex Ovechkin leads with 0.60. The median of the 628 qualified skaters is 0.13.
Which defenseman leads in Goals per Game in 2017-18?
Victor Hedman leads NHL defensemen with 0.22; the top forward is Alex Ovechkin at 0.60.
How is Goals per Game calculated?
Goals per game played, all situations, this season. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is Goals per Game?
Rates settle faster than totals but need games or minutes: early in the season, part-time players swing the most.
Why are some players missing from the board?
Rows below the minimum sample (33 games) are hidden; 262 are below it right now. The minimum grows with the number of games teams have played.