The Slot
The area in front of the net, from the edges of the crease out to the faceoff dots and then straight out to the top of the faceoff circles. Nearly half of all shot attempts and three quarters of all goals come from it.
The slot is where goals are scored. On Hockey Alchemy it is a boxed area: it starts at the edges of the crease on the goal line, runs straight out to the two faceoff dots, then straight out from the dots to the top of the faceoff circles, 35 feet from the goal line. Everything inside that shape counts as the slot on our charts and cards.
In the 2025-26 regular season, 45% of unblocked shot attempts came from the slot, and 76% of all goals. An attempt from the slot went in 11.8% of the time, against 3.1% from everywhere else in the zone.
We split the offensive zone into eight sections, using the names of the zone charts fans already know. Inside the slot, the Inner Slot is the kite right in front of the net: its side corners are where the edge of the slot crosses each faceoff circle, and its point is 27 feet out. The West and East Outer Slots fill the rest of the box. Outside it are Outside North West and North East (everything below the top of the circles, behind the net included), the West and East Points, and the Center Point lane between them. West is the shooter's left, facing the net.
Formula
The slot (feet; goal line = 0, net at centre): - At the goal line: as wide as the crease, 8 ft across - Widens in a straight line to the faceoff dots: 44 ft across, 20 ft out - Then straight out to the top of the faceoff circles: 35 ft out Inner Slot: from the crease edges along the slot's edge to where it crosses each faceoff circle (about 9 ft out), then in to a point 27 ft out.
Components
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Inner Slot | 25% of the zone's unblocked attempts; 13.8% go in. The best ice in hockey. |
| West and East Outer Slot | About 11% of attempts each; about 9% go in. |
| Outside North West and East | Below the top of the circles but outside the slot, behind the net included. About 12.5% each; 4.0% go in. |
| Center Point | The lane from the top of the circles to the blue line. 12% of attempts; 4.1% go in. |
| West and East Point | About 8% each; 1.4% go in. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is the slot in hockey?
The area directly in front of the net: from the edges of the crease out to the two faceoff dots, then straight out to the top of the faceoff circles, 35 feet from the goal line.
How many goals come from the slot?
About three quarters. In 2025-26, 76% of NHL goals came from the slot, from 45% of unblocked shot attempts. A slot attempt went in 11.8% of the time, against 3.1% from the rest of the zone.
What is the difference between the slot and the inner slot?
The Inner Slot is the kite-shaped area right in front of the net, inside the slot. It is about a quarter of all attempts in the zone and they go in 13.8% of the time; the Outer Slot either side of it converts at about 9%.
Is the slot the same as a high-danger chance?
No. The slot is a place on the ice. Whether a chance is dangerous also depends on how it happened (a rebound, a rush, a pass across the ice), which is what expected goals measures.