NHL says ‘missed call rate’ is steady despite record low power play opportunities
MANALAPAN, Fla. — Power play opportunities have plummeted year-over-year and teams are on track for the fewest man-advantage chances since the NHL began tracking data in 1963-64, but the league attributes that to player conformance to rules standards rather than missed calls by referees.
The numbers are staggering: Through the same number of games played compared to one year ago, there have been 747 fewer power play opportunities league-wide, representing a drop of nearly 12 percent. Games are on pace for the lowest number of power play opportunities (5.5) in the history of the league, leaving some teams with as many as 50 fewer power plays at this point compared to last season.
“We’re seeing our ‘missed rate’ is not up,” NHL executive vice president of officiating Stephen Walkom said Tuesday, after Day 2 of the GMs Meetings in Florida.
What does that mean? The NHL tracks and scores each referee every game on calls both made and missed. Walkom said that number has remained steady.
“You’re not seeing more penalties missed when you watch a hockey game,” Walkom explained. “It means we know how many calls are made every game, and if we’re missing calls in games, that has remained unchanged.”
The Western Conference has been particularly harder hit this season, with 449 fewer power play opportunities for teams in the West compared to 298 fewer power play opportunities in the East so far. The numbers are significant. Take the Minnesota Wild, for instance, who have had 60 fewer power plays year-over-year. If they converted at their same 21.4 percent rate this season, that is 13 more goals scored, which could mean a few more wins.
Western Conference Power Play Opportunities
Year-over-year through same number of games played, data as of March 16, 2025:
| Team | GP | 2023-24 PPs | 2024-25 PPs | Difference |
| Minnesota | 67 | 230 | 170 | -60 |
| St. Louis | 65 | 210 | 154 | -56 |
| Vegas | 67 | 211 | 156 | -55 |
| Chicago | 67 | 205 | 156 | -49 |
| Los Angeles | 65 | 199 | 151 | -48 |
| Colorado | 68 | 238 | 197 | -41 |
| Nashville | 66 | 226 | 185 | -41 |
| Edmonton | 67 | 199 | 165 | -34 |
| Vancouver | 67 | 212 | 188 | -24 |
| Calgary | 65 | 204 | 184 | -20 |
| Anaheim | 67 | 199 | 179 | -20 |
| Utah | 67 | 203 | 189 | -14 |
| Winnipeg | 68 | 195 | 184 | -11 |
| Seattle | 68 | 191 | 186 | -5 |
| Dallas | 66 | 192 | 195 | +3 |
| San Jose | 68 | 166 | 192 | +26 |
| TOTAL | 3280 | 2831 | -449 |
Walkom declined to share the rate at which the NHL believes its referees are missing calls, but he believes as a whole, the sharp decline in power play opportunities this year is a factor of both players adjusting to rule standards and teams being afraid to give lethal power plays a chance.
“It’s player conformance. We expected that to happen over time,” Walkom said. “I know that our standard hasn’t changed and we’re reinforcing it in the same way. Suspensions are down. Boarding penalties are down. Things are down in the game. I think what we’re seeing is in close games, no one wants to take a penalty. They know what the power play ratio is. To me, nobody is really talking about missed calls in a game.”
The lack of power play opportunities has been masked by the fact that NHL teams are on track to set a new record for power play efficiency (21.6 percent) despite fewer chances. Had the total number of power plays goals been down 12 percent year-over-year as well, more eyebrows would be raised.
Nonetheless, 78 percent of goals scored this season have been at even-strength, which is the highest percentage in 51 seasons. That also coincides with goal scoring as a whole cresting, as noted recently by Daily Faceoff’s Paul Pidutti.
All of the numbers have left some NHL general managers without much of an answer as to why their teams have received so many fewer power plays in just one season’s time. Has the game really been played that much more cleanly in 12 months?
“I don’t think so,” said Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin, whose team has the largest drop in power plays.
“No,” said Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito.
When asked if they have a theory for the reduction in calls, they struggled to produce one.
“Everybody hates us,” Zito said, laughing. Guerin paused. “I don’t know,” he said. “I’m not concerned about it because sometimes you can over call games. That is a big number though. Maybe they’re letting us play a little bit more.”
Nashville Predators GM Barry Trotz was the only one who attributed the drop to teams harping more on discipline.
“I don’t know if there is any one thing I can put my finger on, but I think players and coaches understand that power plays are dangerous,” Trotz said. “The margin for error is slighter and slighter.”
Said Zito: “It could be style of play, fatigue, we don’t draw as many. I don’t have an answer. I can’t see that we’re doing anything differently that would result in a lower threshold of calls against us.”
Nor surprisingly, many superstar players are seeing a significant decline in penalties drawn. Connor McDavid has drawn 15 fewer penalties than at the same juncture last season, down to 22 from 37, while Nathan MacKinnon has dropped from 28 to 21 in drawn penalties, rates which more than double the league average drop.
Eastern Conference Power Play Opportunities
Year-over-year through same number of games played, data as of Sunday, March 16, 2025:
| Team | GP | 2023-24 PPs | 2024-25 PPs | Difference |
| Detroit | 67 | 236 | 198 | -38 |
| Philadelphia | 68 | 215 | 177 | -38 |
| NY Rangers | 68 | 213 | 178 | -35 |
| Pittsburgh | 69 | 222 | 189 | -33 |
| Columbus | 66 | 183 | 155 | -28 |
| NY Islanders | 66 | 190 | 165 | -25 |
| Florida | 68 | 227 | 203 | -24 |
| Montréal | 66 | 214 | 192 | -22 |
| New Jersey | 68 | 204 | 189 | -15 |
| Ottawa | 66 | 227 | 215 | -12 |
| Tampa Bay | 66 | 197 | 186 | -11 |
| Boston | 68 | 207 | 200 | -7 |
| Toronto | 66 | 188 | 183 | -5 |
| Carolina | 67 | 208 | 204 | -4 |
| Washington | 67 | 192 | 188 | -4 |
| Buffalo | 65 | 183 | 186 | +3 |
| TOTAL | 3306 | 3008 | -298 |
While coach’s challenge continues to be a hot-button issue at the GM Meetings, one area that’s unlikely video review will expand upon is the ability for coaches or teams to challenge penalties – for both missed calls and to overturn calls made.
“Any type of judgment call in any sport is very difficult,” Walkom said. “The NFL tried with pass interference and they found it very difficult and they went away from it … The game’s not perfect. We’re going to have lots of calls, lots of non-calls in the game.”
As for the decline in power play opportunities, only time will tell whether this season is an anomaly or a trend to track next season and beyond.
“I don’t think it’s an issue unless it’s made into an issue,” Walkom said. “We look at each game to see if there are missed calls in a game and there isn’t any more than there has been historically. Hey, sometimes that happens.”
Special thank you to Daily Faceoff’s Jason Gregor who compiled the team-by-team numbers via NHL.com.
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