Stats glossary
What is a game-winning goal in hockey?
The goal that took the winning team’s score one past the losing team’s final total, as the NHL counts it. The losing team’s later goals don’t move it, so it isn’t always the goal that broke the last tie. An overtime winner is always the game-winner; a game decided in a shootout has none.
GWG · Game-winning goals
Also called
- GWG
- game-winner
- game winning goal
Example: In a 3–2 win, the winning team’s third goal is the game-winner. In a 4–1 win it’s the winning team’s second goal, even when its first goal opened the scoring and it never trailed.
GWG leaders
Top 10 so far in the 2026–27 regular season
| # | Player | Team | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Tuch |  WSH | 17 | 5 |
| 2 | Cutter Gauthier |  ANA | 18 | 4 |
| 2 | Nick Schmaltz |  UTA | 19 | 4 |
| 2 | Jack Hughes |  NJD | 20 | 4 |
| 2 | Kirill Kaprizov |  MIN | 21 | 4 |
| 6 | Cole Caufield |  MTL | 19 | 3 |
| 6 | Elias Lindholm |  BOS | 19 | 3 |
| 6 | Mason McTavish |  STL | 19 | 3 |
| 6 | Leon Draisaitl |  EDM | 20 | 3 |
| 6 | Evan Bouchard | EDM | 20 | 3 |
+1 more tied at 3