Reading a Shot Map

Where the shots come from, zone by zone.

Each zone is shaded by its shots. On Count, darker means more shots from there. On Relative, green means more than the league average from that zone and orange means fewer.

The slot, the area in front of the net between the faceoff dots, is where most goals come from. A shooter who lives there turns more of his shots into goals.

Volume and danger are different things. Lots of shots from the point add to a shot total without many goals: useful for a shots line, less so for goals.

A team map shows where a team shoots from, or where it allows shots. A defence that gives up the slot is a good matchup for a slot shooter.

Mind the sample. A few games can shade a zone dark by chance, so look at the season, or last season early on.

Where you'll see it: Player Shot Map, Team Shot Map, Team Matchup