What Is +/- And Why Does Your Coach Care About It?
Plus/minus is one of the most misunderstood stats in hockey. Here's what it actually tells you — and why it's one of the first numbers your coaching staff wants at intermission.
The Basic Idea
Plus/minus (+/-) is simple in theory: every time a player is on the ice and their team scores an even-strength goal, they get a +1. Every time they're on the ice and the opponent scores at even strength, they get a -1.
A player who ends the season at +12 was on the ice for 12 more goals for than against. A player at -8? Their team gave up 8 more even-strength goals while they were skating.
Quick Example
A player scores 2 goals in a 4-3 win — but they were also on the ice for all 3 opponent goals. Their +/- for that game? -1. Two goals, but the team bled when they were out there.
Why Coaches Care About It
Goals and assists tell you what a player did with the puck. Plus/minus starts to tell you what they did without it — positioning, defensive zone coverage, backchecking. The things coaches see but scoresheets miss.
When a coach gets the +/- for the whole team at intermission, they can immediately see which lines are on the ice when things go sideways. That's actionable. "Your line is -3 in the first period" is a very different conversation than "we're giving up too many goals."
The Limitations (Be Honest)
Plus/minus has real weaknesses, especially at youth levels:
- It's team-dependent. A great player on a weak team will have a worse +/- than a mediocre player on a powerhouse.
- Line matching matters. If a player gets matched against the other team's top line every shift, their +/- will suffer — even if they're playing well.
- Sample size is everything. One bad game can wreck a month's worth of positive play. Look at trends, not snapshots.
How to Use It as a Team Stats Tracker
Great news: +/- is calculated by the app for every player every game. The real value isn't one game — it's the pattern over a season. Which players are consistently positive at even strength? Which lines tend to be on the ice during rough patches? Are those rough patches tied to specific periods?
The number isn't the point. The conversation it starts between your coaching staff and your team is.
Track It in BackCheckLabs
BackCheckLabs automatically calculates +/- for every player on your roster for every game — and aggregates it across the season. Share a full team +/- breakdown with your coach at intermission or after the game.