Plus minus

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Plus / Minus is a statistic in ice hockey that shows the difference between goals and goals conceded for an outfield player while he was on the ice.

The plus / minus value of a field player increases by one every time a goal is scored for his team and he is currently on the ice. Nonetheless, every time a goal is scored for the opposing team while it is on the ice, it is reduced by one. However, both only apply if the team in question does not score the goal in a power play . Goals scored with a penalty shot are also not included in the plus / minus statistics.

The statistics can be used as a partial aspect to assess the defensive strength of a player, since goals and assists are more likely to be used to evaluate the player for the offensive performance.

The Canadiens de Montréal were the first team to have the plus / minus statistics (in the 1950s). Other teams followed in the early 1960s. In 1968 , the NHL officially started recording these statistics and since 1983 it has been giving the NHL Plus / Minus Award annually to the player with the highest plus / minus value. Bobby Orr from the Boston Bruins topped the plus / minus statistics most often (6 times) . However, this was before the NHL Plus / Minus Award was given.

The Finnish SM-liiga also awards a comparable award : the Matti-Keinonen-Trophy .

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