Scoringskans

Scoringskans is a statistic used in sports analytics to quantify the quality of goal-scoring opportunities. The term, found in hockey and football analytics, roughly corresponds to the probability that a given shot or sequence of play results in a goal. Scoringskans is typically assessed by considering factors such as shot location, shot type, the presence of defenders, goalie position, and time remaining, though definitions vary by league and analyst.

Practically, scoringskans is often categorized into high-danger and lower-danger opportunities, with high-danger chances originating from close proximity to the goal, the slot area in hockey, or other prime shooting zones. Analysts measure the frequency and conversion rate of scoringskans to evaluate players, lines, and teams, and to compare performance across games or seasons.

Calculation methods range from manual coding of video to automated event data. Some approaches frame scoringskans as the subset of shot attempts that meet a qualification rule, while others attach a probability to each scoring chance based on historical outcomes in similar situations, yielding an expected scoring chance (or xSC) metric.

Relation to xG: Scoringskans often informs expected goals (xG) models, serving as a qualitative precursor or as a feature in more advanced models. While xG assigns a probability of scoring to individual shots, scoringskans emphasizes the quality of opportunities and may be used to track scoring chance rate (SC%) and conversion.

Limitations include inconsistent definitions, subjective coding, and data availability. Comparisons across leagues or seasons can be unreliable if scoring-chance criteria differ. Nevertheless, scoringskans provides a useful lens for analyzing shot quality and strategic decisions, complementing raw shot counts and traditional statistics.