What is a shutout in hockey?
How Shutouts Are Credited
In the NHL, a shutout is credited to a goaltender who plays the entire game and allows no goals. If a goalie is pulled and another finishes the game without allowing a goal, the first goalie is credited with the shutout if their team wins, but the second goalie does not get a shutout. If two goalies combine for a shutout, it is recorded as a team shutout, not an individual one.
A shutout can be a 0-0 tie in leagues that allow ties, but in the NHL, regular-season games go to overtime and a shootout, so a shutout win is typically 1-0, 2-0, etc. A shootout loss does not count as a shutout for the losing goalie because the shootout is not considered a goal against for individual stats.
Records and Context
The NHL record for most shutouts in a career is held by Martin Brodeur with 125. In a single season, the record is 22 by George Hainsworth in 1928-29 (in a 44-game season). Modern goalies rarely reach 15 shutouts in a season.
A shutout is different from a scoreless period; it must be a full game. In international play, the rules are similar, but overtime and shootout rules may affect credit.
Common mistakes
- Thinking a goalie gets a shutout if they are pulled and the team still allows no goals; they must play the entire game.
- Confusing a shutout with a team not allowing a goal in a period; it must be the whole game.
