text: every team has statisticians at every game, and the NHL does too, I think, to gather all the information.\nA goal is scored for your team when your on the ice gives you a plus 1. If your on the ice when you get scored upon, you get a minus 1. This is not so much indicative of the player, more for the team strength and when a player is on the ice. Offensive forwards generally have plus ratings. Even the best defense man may have a minus rating. A strong team that scores a lot and everyone on the team may be a plus.