What is the purpose of the Game Winning Goal statistic?

[Nenikoj]

In today's game, the scoring went

NAS 1, PIT 0
Calle Jarnkrok (2)

NAS 1, PIT 1
Sidney Crosby (8)

NAS 2, PIT 1
Frederick Gaudreau (3)

NAS 3, PIT 1
Viktor Arvidsson (3)

NAS 4, PIT 1
Filip Forsberg (9)

Gaudreau is credited with the Game Winning Goal. But what makes his goal more significant than any other Nashville goals such that it should get special status? It didn't win the game and while it did break a tie, it occurred early in the 2nd period, not exactly the time when goals are considered clutch. So what purpose does this statistic serve?

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[Sabre the Win]

Because that was the go ahead goal that won them the game.

 

[morehockeystats]

In today's game, the scoring went

NAS 1, PIT 0
Calle Jarnkrok (2)

NAS 1, PIT 1
Sidney Crosby (8)

NAS 2, PIT 1
Frederick Gaudreau (3)

NAS 3, PIT 1
Viktor Arvidsson (3)

NAS 4, PIT 1
Filip Forsberg (9)

Gaudreau is credited with the Game Winning Goal. But what makes his goal more significant than any other Nashville goals such that it should get special status? It didn't win the game and while it did break a tie, it occurred early in the 2nd period, not exactly the time when goals are considered clutch. So what purpose does this statistic serve?

Nobody knows what purpose this statistic serves. This game is actually one where it does have some meaning. But a game that goes 0-1,1-1,2-1,3-1,4-1,4-2,5-2,6-2,6-3, that fourth goal is really unremarkable.

 

[mouser]

Nobody knows what purpose this statistic serves. This game is actually one where it does have some meaning. But a game that goes 0-1,1-1,2-1,3-1,4-1,4-2,5-2,6-2,6-3, that fourth goal is really unremarkable.

That does beg a question: what's the record for the most goals scored in a game after the "game winning goal"?

 

[Uncle Rotter]

That does beg a question: what's the record for the most goals scored in a game after the "game winning goal"?

14.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/remembering-the-worst-loss-in-nhl-history

 

[Canadiens1958]

Goals

In today's game, the scoring went

NAS 1, PIT 0
Calle Jarnkrok (2)

NAS 1, PIT 1
Sidney Crosby (8)

NAS 2, PIT 1
Frederick Gaudreau (3)

NAS 3, PIT 1
Viktor Arvidsson (3)

NAS 4, PIT 1
Filip Forsberg (9)

Gaudreau is credited with the Game Winning Goal. But what makes his goal more significant than any other Nashville goals such that it should get special status? It didn't win the game and while it did break a tie, it occurred early in the 2nd period, not exactly the time when goals are considered clutch. So what purpose does this statistic serve?

Every goal in a game impacts game management and strategies for both teams. The GWG is simply the goal that defines the path to victory - defining the losing teams ceiling for that particular game.

In the example, the ceiling for Pittsburgh last night was 1.

Value of the GWG comes from the recognition of when and why strategies and game management are impacted. Using last nights example - The totality of changes after Gaudreau scored to make it 2-1 Nashville.

From another perspective why couldn`t Pittsburgh score a second goal while Nashville added two others.

 

[geehaad]

That does beg a question: what's the record for the most goals scored in a game after the "game winning goal"?

14.

http://www.thehockeynews.com/news/article/remembering-the-worst-loss-in-nhl-history

Hmm. Yeah, that is an answer to the question. However, I thought the question was more to the effect of how many goals the losing team scored after the GWG was scored, which would be a more interesting answer to me.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Definition

Hmm. Yeah, that is an answer to the question. However, I thought the question was more to the effect of how many goals the losing team scored after the GWG was scored, which would be a more interesting answer to me.

By definition the answer is always zero.

 

[dr robbie]

It measures total clutchiness of a player

 

[dr robbie]

By definition the answer is always zero.

Not true.

A team could be up 4-2. The losing team could score a goal, making it 4-3. So the goal was scored after the GWG. So basically, what was the biggest comeback that didn't win a game? (And no, I have no clue of the answer.

 

[Canadiens1958]

Chronologically

Not true.

A team could be up 4-2. The losing team could score a goal, making it 4-3. So the goal was scored after the GWG. So basically, what was the biggest comeback that didn't win a game? (And no, I have no clue of the answer.

Chronologically, in the game but it did not impact the outcome. A GWG cannot be unscored, only bumped upwards within the winning team.

 

[morehockeystats]

Not true.

A team could be up 4-2. The losing team could score a goal, making it 4-3. So the goal was scored after the GWG. So basically, what was the biggest comeback that didn't win a game? (And no, I have no clue of the answer.

The GWG is only determined after the game is over. That's a stat, like a goalie W/L decision, that is not known during the game.

 

[GordonGecko]

Gaudreau is credited with the Game Winning Goal. But what makes his goal more significant than any other Nashville goals such that it should get special status?

IMO the go-ahead goal scored earlier in the game is no more special than any other goal in the total. I think a tying goal with 5 minutes to go is MUCH more valuable than the second goal in a 4-1 win, for example. If we're going to put extra value on goals it should be with little or no time left. OT winners is big, final 60 second winners, last minute tying, etc...

 

[lomiller1]

The primary purpose of GWG is for talking heads to construct storylines in order to fill air time.

 

[Nenikoj]

Because that was the go ahead goal that won them the game.

Gaudreau's goal didn't win the game. The game continued on after Gaudreau's goal as an undecided game.

 

[Nenikoj]

Nobody knows what purpose this statistic serves. This game is actually one where it does have some meaning. But a game that goes 0-1,1-1,2-1,3-1,4-1,4-2,5-2,6-2,6-3, that fourth goal is really unremarkable.

Very good example - and much better than the example I provided. If no one knows the purpose of the statistic, who came up with the statistic and what were they trying to measure by implementing it? Or is it just a stupid marketing statistic created by a NHL person who understood nothing about statistics, timelines and scoring?

 

[Nenikoj]

That does beg a question: what's the record for the most goals scored in a game after the "game winning goal"?

Excellent question!

 

[Nenikoj]

Every goal in a game impacts game management and strategies for both teams.

On what basis should the strategies of the teams have been different if Gaudreau's goal which put them up 2-1 had not been the GWG?

 

[Nenikoj]

By definition the answer is always zero.

I never really thought about that. I think you're correct. But that doesn't help explain what purpose the stat serves.

 

[Nenikoj]

It measures total clutchiness of a player

How do you figure? As the GWG isn't awarded until all scoring information is in, by your logic, one wouldn't know if a goal is "clutchiness" when it is scored. I thought clutch was measured based on the conditions at the moment and not on what may or may not occur later.

 

[Nenikoj]

Not true.

A team could be up 4-2. The losing team could score a goal, making it 4-3. So the goal was scored after the GWG. So basically, what was the biggest comeback that didn't win a game? (And no, I have no clue of the answer.

Not true. In your example, the GWG would be awarded to the 4th goal of the winning team.

 

[Nenikoj]

IMO the go-ahead goal scored earlier in the game is no more special than any other goal in the total. I think a tying goal with 5 minutes to go is MUCH more valuable than the second goal in a 4-1 win, for example. If we're going to put extra value on goals it should be with little or no time left. OT winners is big, final 60 second winners, last minute tying, etc...

Very good point. This helps put more emphasis on the question what purpose does the GWG stat serve?

 

[Canadiens1958]

Historically

Very good point. This helps put more emphasis on the question what purpose does the GWG stat serve?

Carry over from the days, pre NHL, when hockey was played with limited or no substitution. Best of three goals(games) wins. This evolved to a timed game, most goals wins.

Initially the NHA / NHL was limited or no substitution hockey, nine, ten man rosters.

A hockey game has a certain flow to it. Key goal is the first goal, tracked extensively thru the history of the NHL. This determines who attacks, who defends. Team that falls behind 1-0 effectively needs at least two goals to win. GWG simply is a floating benchmark from each game that stats that after this goal regardless of the losing team`s efforts it was not possible for them to win.

 

[Nenikoj]

Carry over from the days, pre NHL, when hockey was played with limited or no substitution. Best of three goals(games) wins. This evolved to a timed game, most goals wins.

In that case, the GWG wouldn't always be the 2nd goal. If the loser didn't score one, then the GWG would be the goal which put the eventual winning team up 1-0. But since it was unknown at that point in time if the 1-0 team would win the game, it would make no sense to award that goal the GWG.

Initially the NHA / NHL was limited or no substitution hockey, nine, ten man rosters.

A hockey game has a certain flow to it. Key goal is the first goal, tracked extensively thru the history of the NHL. This determines who attacks, who defends. Team that falls behind 1-0 effectively needs at least two goals to win. GWG simply is a floating benchmark from each game that stats that after this goal regardless of the losing team`s efforts it was not possible for them to win.

That still doesn't explain what purpose it serves.

 

[Canadiens1958]

No

In that case, the GWG wouldn't always be the 2nd goal. If the loser didn't score one, then the GWG would be the goal which put the eventual winning team up 1-0. But since it was unknown at that point in time if the 1-0 team would win the game, it would make no sense to award that goal the GWG.


That still doesn't explain what purpose it serves.

No, 1-0, the contest could time out, curfew, rink needed for other users, purposes, darkness if outdoors or bad weather. So it would be a "No Contest". Replay necessary or deferred to next year if a replay was not possible, co-winners in a politically correct world.

Most goals wins set time format still needed a benchmark goal, for each specific game in a league schedule. The goal that set the benchmark for the specific win.