puckbased

Puckbased is a term used in hockey analytics to describe an approach that centers analysis on the puck’s location and movement rather than on individual players. In puckbased analysis, events are framed in terms of puck possession, sequences of puck transitions, and the quality of opportunities generated from the puck’s position, rather than solely on players’ actions.

Etymology and scope: The word combines “puck” with “based” to signal a methodological emphasis on the puck as the primary unit of analysis. It is not a formal standard adopted by all researchers, but a descriptive label used in discussions of data-driven hockey analysis, analytics software, and broadcast commentary to highlight puck-centric viewpoints.

Data and methods: Puckbased analysis relies on puck-tracking data from sensors or computer vision, as well as traditional event logs. Methods include spatiotemporal modeling of puck trajectories, network analyses of puck sequences (passes, recoveries, and shots), and Markov or probabilistic models that evaluate how puck possession transitions lead to scoring opportunities. Common metrics focus on puck control duration, zone entries and exits tied to the puck, shot quality from puck position, and turnover risk by puck location.

Applications and limitations: In practice, puckbased metrics are used to augment player-centered statistics for team strategy, line optimization, and game simulations. They are particularly useful for evaluating line strategies, power plays, and forechecking pressure. Limitations include data quality and resolution requirements, potential overemphasis on puck-centric events at the expense of off-pthe-ball contributions, and the need to integrate with established player-based measures for a complete assessment.

See also: hockey analytics, puck tracking, possession metrics, player-based metrics.