Scoring System Explained: How Hockey Points Are Counted

If you watch a game and wonder why the scoreboard shows more than just goals, you’re not alone. Hockey’s scoring system mixes goals, assists, and league points, and it can look confusing at first. This guide breaks down each piece so you can follow the action without guessing.

Goals and Assists: The Basics

Every time the puck crosses the line between the posts, a goal is recorded. That’s the easy part. What’s less obvious is the assist. The two players who touched the puck right before the scorer get credit, too. So a single play can rack up three points: one for the goal‑scorer and one for each assist.

Why does this matter? Fans track who’s racking up points over a season, and coaches look at assists to see who’s creating chances. Players love a high assist total because it shows they’re good at setting up teammates.

League Points and Standings

Beyond the individual stats, teams earn points in the standings. In most leagues, a win gives you two points, a loss gives none, and an overtime or shootout loss gets you one point. That single point can be a make‑or‑break difference when playoff spots are on the line.

Some leagues use a three‑point win system, but the idea stays the same: every game outcome affects the table. That’s why you’ll hear commentators say a team “needs a point” in their final games.

Another piece of the puzzle is the shootout. If a game is still tied after overtime, each team gets a chance to score in a one‑on‑one showdown. The shootout winner gets the extra point for the win, while the loser keeps the one point from the overtime loss.

Understanding how these points add up helps you see why a team might play conservatively late in a game. Securing a guaranteed point can feel better than risking a loss for a chance at two.

For players, personal point totals (goals + assists) are tracked in the league’s scoring leaderboard. Fans love to compare players across teams. The leader often gets a nickname like “the points king” and can win awards at the end of the season.

So, when you look at a box score, you’re seeing three layers: the raw goals, the assists that added depth to the play, and the league points that shape the season. Each layer tells a different story about the game and the players involved.

Next time you watch a match, try to spot the assist makers and notice how the team’s point total in the standings shifts after each game. It makes the sport feel richer, and you’ll sound like a real insider when you chat with other fans.