Defense vs position
NHL defense vs goalies
PickFinder Team•Updated:
Opposing goalies put up the most saves against the Carolina Hurricanes: 29.4 per goalie per game, 32nd of 32, against a league average of 24.3. They put up the fewest against the Vancouver Canucks, at 18.5.
1st allows the least (toughest) and 32nd allows the most (softest). These are 2026-27 numbers through about 14 games per team. Goalies are summed per game, so a pulled starter and his reliever count as one game.
Green means opponents put up more of that stat, red means less. Ranks are never flipped, so a high rank on a stat like turnovers means opponents turn it over more against this team.
Defense vs goalies, 2026-27
 Carolina Hurricanes | 16 | 29.432nd | 3.829th | 33.332nd |
 New Jersey Devils | 14 | 29.231st | 3.219th | 32.431st |
 Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 27.730th | 2.910th | 30.629th |
 Minnesota Wild | 16 | 27.229th | 2.910th | 30.127th |
 Tampa Bay Lightning | 13 | 26.828th | 3.423rd | 30.228th |
 Colorado Avalanche | 14 | 26.527th | 4.232nd | 30.730th |
 Utah Mammoth | 15 | 26.226th | 3.527th | 29.726th |
 Calgary Flames | 14 | 25.925th | 2.45th | 28.322nd |
 Vegas Golden Knights | 15 | 25.824th | 3.321st | 29.325th |
 Florida Panthers | 14 | 25.623rd | 316th | 28.623rd |
 Los Angeles Kings | 13 | 25.222nd | 2.66th | 27.918th |
 Pittsburgh Penguins | 14 | 25.121st | 3.423rd | 28.623rd |
 Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 24.920th | 3.117th | 2819th |
 San Jose Sharks | 15 | 24.719th | 2.66th | 27.316th |
 Toronto Maple Leafs | 16 | 24.618th | 3.527th | 28.120th |
 Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 24.517th | 3.423rd | 28.120th |
 Winnipeg Jets | 15 | 24.416th | 2.12nd | 26.614th |
 Washington Capitals | 13 | 24.315th | 3.219th | 27.517th |
 Nashville Predators | 14 | 23.614th | 2.910th | 26.915th |
 St. Louis Blues | 14 | 23.313th | 2.910th | 26.213th |
 Dallas Stars | 14 | 23.112th | 2.910th | 26.112th |
 New York Islanders | 14 | 2311th | 2.89th | 25.810th |
 Boston Bruins | 15 | 22.610th | 3.321st | 25.911th |
 Columbus Blue Jackets | 12 | 22.58th | 2.34th | 24.85th |
 Ottawa Senators | 16 | 22.58th | 3.117th | 25.67th |
 Edmonton Oilers | 15 | 21.96th | 3.931st | 25.79th |
 Seattle Kraken | 14 | 21.96th | 3.829th | 25.67th |
 New York Rangers | 15 | 21.75th | 2.66th | 24.34th |
 Anaheim Ducks | 14 | 21.64th | 3.423rd | 256th |
 Philadelphia Flyers | 16 | 21.23rd | 2.12nd | 23.33rd |
 Chicago Blackhawks | 14 | 20.82nd | 21st | 22.82nd |
 Vancouver Canucks | 16 | 18.51st | 2.910th | 21.41st |
Season, last 10 and last 5
Every current number at goalies
Open a stat for its full ranking. L10 and L5 are the same defense over its last 10 and last 5 games, each with its own league rank.
Goalie Saves allowed to goaliesLeague average 24.3 per game
| Carolina Hurricanes | 16 | 29.432nd | 29.832nd | 2730th | Weak |
| New Jersey Devils | 14 | 29.231st | 26.830th | 23.410th | Weak |
| Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 27.730th | 26.526th | 26.427th | Weak |
| Minnesota Wild | 16 | 27.229th | 28.131st | 26.828th | Weak |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 13 | 26.828th | 26.526th | 2519th | Weak |
| Colorado Avalanche | 14 | 26.527th | 26.526th | 26.828th | Weak |
| Utah Mammoth | 15 | 26.226th | 2517th | 26.225th | Weak |
| Calgary Flames | 14 | 25.925th | 25.824th | 2414th | Weak |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 15 | 25.824th | 24.115th | 25.824th | Soft |
| Florida Panthers | 14 | 25.623rd | 26.125th | 25.220th | Soft |
| Los Angeles Kings | 13 | 25.222nd | 25.118th | 23.29th | Soft |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 14 | 25.121st | 23.914th | 24.416th | Soft |
| Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 24.920th | 25.118th | 2730th | Soft |
| San Jose Sharks | 15 | 24.719th | 26.729th | 22.26th | Neutral |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 16 | 24.618th | 24.316th | 24.416th | Neutral |
| Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 24.517th | 25.423rd | 19.81st | Neutral |
| Winnipeg Jets | 15 | 24.416th | 25.118th | 26.326th | Neutral |
| Washington Capitals | 13 | 24.315th | 25.221st | 27.232nd | Neutral |
| Nashville Predators | 14 | 23.614th | 25.221st | 25.623rd | Neutral |
| St. Louis Blues | 14 | 23.313th | 23.18th | 23.812th | Neutral |
| Dallas Stars | 14 | 23.112th | 23.511th | 238th | Solid |
| New York Islanders | 14 | 2311th | 23.813th | 24.618th | Solid |
| Boston Bruins | 15 | 22.610th | 23.39th | 25.220th | Solid |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 12 | 22.58th | 23.612th | 21.24th | Tough |
| Ottawa Senators | 16 | 22.58th | 23.39th | 21.65th | Tough |
| Edmonton Oilers | 15 | 21.96th | 223rd | 25.422nd | Tough |
| Seattle Kraken | 14 | 21.96th | 21.52nd | 19.81st | Tough |
| New York Rangers | 15 | 21.75th | 22.65th | 2414th | Tough |
| Anaheim Ducks | 14 | 21.64th | 22.77th | 22.26th | Tough |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 16 | 21.23rd | 22.65th | 23.410th | Tough |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 14 | 20.82nd | 22.34th | 23.812th | Tough |
| Vancouver Canucks | 16 | 18.51st | 18.61st | 20.43rd | Tough |
Goals Allowed allowed to goaliesLeague average 3 per game
| Colorado Avalanche | 14 | 4.232nd | 3.627th | 428th | Weak |
| Edmonton Oilers | 15 | 3.931st | 3.523rd | 310th | Weak |
| Carolina Hurricanes | 16 | 3.829th | 3.830th | 4.230th | Weak |
| Seattle Kraken | 14 | 3.829th | 3.830th | 3.419th | Weak |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 16 | 3.527th | 3.627th | 428th | Weak |
| Utah Mammoth | 15 | 3.527th | 3.523rd | 3.216th | Weak |
| Anaheim Ducks | 14 | 3.423rd | 3.523rd | 4.632nd | Soft |
| Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 3.423rd | 3.420th | 3.216th | Soft |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 14 | 3.423rd | 312th | 3.419th | Soft |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 13 | 3.423rd | 3.830th | 4.431st | Soft |
| Boston Bruins | 15 | 3.321st | 3.627th | 3.624th | Soft |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 15 | 3.321st | 2.911th | 1.82nd | Soft |
| New Jersey Devils | 14 | 3.219th | 3.523rd | 3.216th | Neutral |
| Washington Capitals | 13 | 3.219th | 3.115th | 310th | Neutral |
| Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 3.117th | 3.319th | 310th | Neutral |
| Ottawa Senators | 16 | 3.117th | 312th | 3.624th | Neutral |
| Florida Panthers | 14 | 316th | 3.420th | 2.66th | Neutral |
| Dallas Stars | 14 | 2.910th | 312th | 2.87th | Solid |
| Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 2.910th | 3.115th | 3.419th | Solid |
| Minnesota Wild | 16 | 2.910th | 3.115th | 3.624th | Solid |
| Nashville Predators | 14 | 2.910th | 3.115th | 3.827th | Solid |
| St. Louis Blues | 14 | 2.910th | 3.420th | 310th | Solid |
| Vancouver Canucks | 16 | 2.910th | 2.54th | 2.87th | Solid |
| New York Islanders | 14 | 2.89th | 2.77th | 2.87th | Solid |
| Los Angeles Kings | 13 | 2.66th | 2.54th | 310th | Tough |
| New York Rangers | 15 | 2.66th | 2.810th | 3.419th | Tough |
| San Jose Sharks | 15 | 2.66th | 2.66th | 2.45th | Tough |
| Calgary Flames | 14 | 2.45th | 2.77th | 310th | Tough |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 12 | 2.34th | 2.23rd | 2.24th | Tough |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 16 | 2.12nd | 2.77th | 3.419th | Tough |
| Winnipeg Jets | 15 | 2.12nd | 1.91st | 11st | Tough |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 14 | 21st | 2.12nd | 23rd | Tough |
Shots Faced allowed to goaliesLeague average 27.3 per game
| Carolina Hurricanes | 16 | 33.332nd | 33.832nd | 31.632nd | Weak |
| New Jersey Devils | 14 | 32.431st | 30.329th | 26.610th | Weak |
| Colorado Avalanche | 14 | 30.730th | 30.128th | 30.831st | Weak |
| Detroit Red Wings | 14 | 30.629th | 29.727th | 29.826th | Weak |
| Tampa Bay Lightning | 13 | 30.228th | 30.329th | 29.424th | Weak |
| Minnesota Wild | 16 | 30.127th | 31.231st | 30.430th | Weak |
| Utah Mammoth | 15 | 29.726th | 28.521st | 29.424th | Weak |
| Vegas Golden Knights | 15 | 29.325th | 2714th | 27.618th | Weak |
| Florida Panthers | 14 | 28.623rd | 29.526th | 27.819th | Soft |
| Pittsburgh Penguins | 14 | 28.623rd | 2714th | 27.819th | Soft |
| Calgary Flames | 14 | 28.322nd | 28.521st | 2714th | Soft |
| Montreal Canadiens | 14 | 28.120th | 2924th | 231st | Soft |
| Toronto Maple Leafs | 16 | 28.120th | 27.818th | 28.221st | Soft |
| Buffalo Sabres | 14 | 2819th | 28.420th | 3027th | Neutral |
| Los Angeles Kings | 13 | 27.918th | 27.717th | 26.29th | Neutral |
| Washington Capitals | 13 | 27.517th | 28.319th | 30.229th | Neutral |
| San Jose Sharks | 15 | 27.316th | 29.325th | 24.65th | Neutral |
| Nashville Predators | 14 | 26.915th | 28.723rd | 3027th | Neutral |
| Winnipeg Jets | 15 | 26.614th | 2714th | 27.315th | Neutral |
| St. Louis Blues | 14 | 26.213th | 26.510th | 26.811th | Neutral |
| Dallas Stars | 14 | 26.112th | 26.712th | 25.87th | Solid |
| Boston Bruins | 15 | 25.911th | 26.913th | 28.823rd | Solid |
| New York Islanders | 14 | 25.810th | 26.510th | 27.416th | Solid |
| Edmonton Oilers | 15 | 25.79th | 25.56th | 28.422nd | Solid |
| Ottawa Senators | 16 | 25.67th | 26.49th | 25.26th | Tough |
| Seattle Kraken | 14 | 25.67th | 25.33rd | 23.22nd | Tough |
| Anaheim Ducks | 14 | 256th | 26.28th | 26.811th | Tough |
| Columbus Blue Jackets | 12 | 24.85th | 25.87th | 23.44th | Tough |
| New York Rangers | 15 | 24.34th | 25.45th | 27.416th | Tough |
| Philadelphia Flyers | 16 | 23.33rd | 25.33rd | 26.811th | Tough |
| Chicago Blackhawks | 14 | 22.82nd | 24.42nd | 25.87th | Tough |
| Vancouver Canucks | 16 | 21.41st | 21.11st | 23.22nd | Tough |
Using defense vs position on a prop
Find the opponent
Say a goalie's line is against the Carolina Hurricanes. The row shows 29.4 saves per goalie per game, 32nd of 32.
Compare with the league
The league average against goalies is 24.3, so this defense gives up 5.1 more per goalie. That puts it in the "Weak" bucket.
Check the recent games
Over the last 5 it is 27, lower than the season, so check whether the defense has improved. A big gap between the season and the last 5 is worth a look before you trust either one.
Then check the player
A matchup is one input. In the app, see how the player has done against today's exact line and compare every book's price.
How this is counted
Each number is what opposing players put up against this team, per game, averaged over the team's 2026-27 games. Goalies are summed per game, so a pulled starter and his reliever count as one game. Teams are ranked on that number league-wide: 1st allows the least, last allows the most, for every stat, with ties sharing a rank. Last 10 and last 5 are the same defense over its most recent games; a dash means too few games to rank (under 3 for L10, under 2 for L5). Computed each morning from every box score of the season, preseason excluded, and refreshed here by 8:40 AM ET.
Defense vs position FAQ
Which NHL team is worst against goalies?
On saves, the Carolina Hurricanes: 29.4 per goalie per game in 2026-27, 32nd of 32, against a league average of 24.3. These are 2026-27 numbers through about 14 games per team.
Which NHL team is best against goalies?
On saves, the Vancouver Canucks: 18.5 per goalie per game, 1st of 32.
Does a higher rank mean a softer matchup?
Yes. 1st allows the least and 32nd allows the most. Ranks are never flipped, so a high rank on a stat like turnovers means opponents turn it over more against this team.
Who counts toward the goalies number?
Goalies are summed per game, so a pulled starter and his reliever count as one game. That keeps the number close to the players a line would be set on. The league average here is 24.3.
Which defense has been getting softer against goalies?
On saves, the Edmonton Oilers have the biggest jump in the last 5 games: 25.4 per game, up from 21.9 on the season.
What is the best tool for researching NHL picks?
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