# Shutout

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Shutout
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Shutout.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutout
> Source revision: 1356593760
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

Game in which one team does not score

For other uses, see [Shut Out (disambiguation)](/source/Shut_Out_(disambiguation)).

Not to be confused with [Penalty shootout](/source/Penalty_shootout).

Goaltender [Martin Brodeur](/source/Martin_Brodeur) holds several [individual National Hockey League records](/source/List_of_NHL_records_(individual)) for shutouts.

In team sports, a **shutout** ([U.S.](/source/North_American_English)) or **clean sheet** ([UK](/source/Commonwealth_English)) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as [basketball](/source/Basketball). Shutouts are usually seen as a result of effective defensive play even though a weak opposing offense may be as much to blame. Some sports credit individual players, particularly [goalkeepers](/source/Goalkeeper) and [starting pitchers](/source/Starting_pitcher), with shutouts and keep track of them as statistics; others do not.

## American football

Shutouts in [American football](/source/American_football) are uncommon. Keeping an opponent scoreless in American football requires a team's defense to be able to consistently shut down both pass and run offenses over the course of a game. The difficulty of completing a shutout is compounded by the many ways a team can score in the game. For example, teams can attempt field goals, which have a high rate of success. The range of NFL caliber kickers makes it possible for a team with a weak offense to get close enough to the goalposts (within "[field goal range](/source/Field_goal_range)") to kick a field goal. Of 2,544 regular season NFL games from 2000 to 2009, 89 (3.5%) were shutouts.

There are at least five instances in American football in which a team had been shut out throughout an entire season, and four in which a team has shut out all of their opponents in the season (the longest of these being the ten-game [perfect season](/source/Perfect_season) in which the 1933 [Providence Huskies](/source/Providence_Huskies) did not concede a single point).[1]

In college football, the [Tennessee Volunteers](/source/Tennessee_Volunteers_football) hold the record for most consecutive shutout wins with 17. The streak started against [Tennessee-Chattanooga](/source/Chattanooga_Mocs_football) on November 30, 1938 and ended with a 27–12 loss against Alabama on October 19, 1940.[2]

The achievement of a shutout is much more difficult in [Canadian football](/source/Canadian_football), where scoring and offensive movement is generally more frequent and a [single point](/source/Single_(football)) can be scored by kicking the ball into the [end zone](/source/End_zone) such that the other team does not, or cannot, return it or kick it out of the end zone.

## Association football

Goalkeeper [Ray Clemence](/source/Ray_Clemence) recorded 537 "clean sheets" during his career.

In [association football](/source/Association_football) and other sports with a [goalkeeper](/source/Goalkeeper), the goalkeeper may be said to "keep a **clean sheet**" if they prevent their opponents from scoring during an entire match. Because football is a relatively low-scoring game, it is common for one team, or even both teams, to score no goals.[3] A theory as to the term's origin is that sports reporters used separate pieces of paper to record the different statistical details of a game. If one team did not allow a goal, then that team's "details of goals conceded" page would appear blank, leaving a clean sheet. If a game ends with a final score of 0–0, both sides are considered to have kept a clean sheet.[4][5]

## Baseball

[Nolan Ryan](/source/Nolan_Ryan) recorded 61 shutouts during his career as a major-league pitcher.

Main article: [Shutout (baseball)](/source/Shutout_(baseball))

In [Major League Baseball](/source/Major_League_Baseball), a shutout (denoted statistically as **ShO** or **SHO**[6]) refers to the act by which a single [pitcher](/source/Pitcher) pitches a [complete game](/source/Complete_game) and does not allow the opposing team to score a [run](/source/Run_(baseball)). If two or more pitchers combine to complete this act, no pitcher will be awarded a shutout, although the team itself can be said to have "shut out" the opposing team. The only exception to this is when a pitcher enters a game before the opposing team scores a run or makes an out and then completes the game without allowing a run to score. That pitcher is then awarded a shutout, although not a complete game.

The all-time career leader in shutouts is [Walter Johnson](/source/Walter_Johnson), who pitched for the [Washington Senators](/source/Washington_Senators_(1901%E2%80%9360)) from 1907 to 1927. He accumulated 110 shutouts,[7] which is 20 more than second placed [Grover Cleveland Alexander](/source/Grover_Cleveland_Alexander).[8] The most shutouts recorded in one season was 16, which was a feat accomplished by both Grover Alexander (1916) and [George Bradley](/source/George_Bradley) (1876).[9] These records are considered among the most secure records in baseball, as pitchers today rarely earn more than one or two shutouts per season with a heavy emphasis on [pitch count](/source/Pitch_count) and [relief pitching](/source/Relief_pitcher). Complete games themselves have also become rare among [starting pitchers](/source/Starting_pitcher). As of 2021, the current active leader in shutouts is [Clayton Kershaw](/source/Clayton_Kershaw) of the [Los Angeles Dodgers](/source/Los_Angeles_Dodgers), whose 15 shutouts ties him for 463rd all time. Only four pitchers whose entire careers were in the post-1920 [live-ball era](/source/Live-ball_era) threw as many as 60 career shutouts, with [Warren Spahn](/source/Warren_Spahn) leading those pitchers with 63.[10]

## Ice hockey

Goaltender [George Hainsworth](/source/George_Hainsworth) recorded 22 shutouts during the [1928–29 NHL season](/source/1928%E2%80%9329_NHL_season).

In [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey), a shutout (**SO**) is credited to a [goaltender](/source/Goaltender) who successfully stops the other team from scoring during the entire game. In regular season games, if the score is 0–0 with the game going to a penalty shootout, both goaltenders are credited with a shutout.[11] The record holder for most regular-season career shutouts in the [National Hockey League](/source/National_Hockey_League) (NHL) is [Martin Brodeur](/source/Martin_Brodeur) with 125 (see the [all-time regular season shutout leaders](/source/List_of_NHL_statistical_leaders#Regular_season_shutouts)). For a single NHL season, the most shutouts recorded by a goaltender is 22, by [George Hainsworth](/source/George_Hainsworth) during the 1928–29 season. The modern-day record for a team being shut out in a season is held by the [Columbus Blue Jackets](/source/Columbus_Blue_Jackets) at 16, during the [2006–07 season](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_NHL_season).

In the event that a shutout is accomplished by a team using more than one goaltender in the game, the shutout is credited to the team, and no goaltender is awarded a shutout. This has happened several times in NHL history:

- On April 3, 1983, the [Washington Capitals](/source/Washington_Capitals) won 3–0 against the [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers) with [Al Jensen](/source/Al_Jensen) in goals for the first two periods and [Pat Riggin](/source/Pat_Riggin) for the last period.[12]

- On November 23, 2006, the [Nashville Predators](/source/Nashville_Predators) won 6–0 against the [Vancouver Canucks](/source/Vancouver_Canucks) with goaltender [Tomáš Vokoun](/source/Tom%C3%A1%C5%A1_Vokoun) being replaced at the start of the third period by [Chris Mason](/source/Chris_Mason_(ice_hockey)) due to injury.[13]

- On December 1, 2009, the [Toronto Maple Leafs](/source/Toronto_Maple_Leafs) won 3–0 against the [Montreal Canadiens](/source/Montreal_Canadiens). [Jonas Gustavsson](/source/Jonas_Gustavsson) started in goal but was replaced after the first period by [Joey MacDonald](/source/Joey_MacDonald) because of a cardiac problem.[14]

- On March 26, 2013, the [Pittsburgh Penguins](/source/Pittsburgh_Penguins) won 1–0 against the Montreal Canadiens with [Marc-André Fleury](/source/Marc-Andr%C3%A9_Fleury) starting the game and being replaced because of injury by Tomáš Vokoun for the third period.[15]

- On December 3, 2021, the [New York Rangers](/source/New_York_Rangers) won 1–0 against the [San Jose Sharks](/source/San_Jose_Sharks) after [Igor Shesterkin](/source/Igor_Shesterkin) was injured and replaced by [Alexandar Georgiev](/source/Alexandar_Georgiev) in the third period.

- On March 19, 2023, the [St. Louis Blues](/source/St._Louis_Blues) won 3–0 against the [Winnipeg Jets](/source/Winnipeg_Jets) after [Joel Hofer](/source/Joel_Hofer) had an equipment malfunction and was replaced by [Thomas Greiss](/source/Thomas_Greiss) for 2:36 in the 2nd period. Hofer then returned after fixing his equipment.

- On March 10, 2024, the [Edmonton Oilers](/source/Edmonton_Oilers) won 4–0 against the [Pittsburgh Penguins](/source/Pittsburgh_Penguins) after [Calvin Pickard](/source/Calvin_Pickard) was replaced with [Stuart Skinner](/source/Stuart_Skinner) for the last 1:16 of the second period and did not face a shot. Pickard then returned for the third period.[16]

## Rugby

Clean sheets are not common in either [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) or [league](/source/Rugby_league), since it is relatively simple to score a penalty kick. The 2005 Gillette [Rugby League Tri-Nations](/source/2005_Rugby_League_Tri-Nations#Final_2) final was the first time that [Australia](/source/Australian_national_rugby_league_team) had been "nilled" since 1981.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] There is no alternative term for the occurrence of a team failing to score, except to say that the team scored "nil" (or "zero" or "nothing" in North America). For example, the December 2006 [Celtic League](/source/Pro14) match between [Munster](/source/Munster_Rugby) and [Connacht](/source/Connacht_Rugby) ended 13–0 to Munster;[17] it was, therefore, said that Munster won "thirteen–nil."

Recent examples of clean sheets in international rugby union include England vs Scotland in [2014](/source/2014_Six_Nations_Championship), France vs Italy in [2015](/source/2015_Six_Nations_Championship), France vs Argentina in [2016](/source/2016_June_rugby_union_tests), Scotland vs Italy in [2017](/source/2017_Six_Nations_Championship), New Zealand vs South Africa in [2017](/source/2017_Rugby_Championship), New Zealand vs Australia in [2019](/source/2019_Rugby_World_Cup_warm-up_matches), and Wales vs Italy in [2020](/source/2020_Six_Nations_Championship).

Generally, a team that is well-disciplined defensively, as well as behaviorally (not giving away penalty kicks), is most likely to not concede scores. This may also occur if there is a significant difference in class between the two teams, for example, when [Scotland](/source/Scotland_national_rugby_union_team) beat [Spain](/source/Spain_national_rugby_union_team) (who were playing in their only Rugby World Cup) 48–0 in the [1999 Rugby World Cup](/source/1999_Rugby_World_Cup),[18] or when Australia beat [Namibia](/source/Namibia_national_rugby_union_team) 142–0 in the [2003 Rugby World Cup](/source/2003_Rugby_World_Cup). [19]

## See also

- [Sports portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Sports)

- [Whitewash (sport)](/source/Whitewash_(sport))

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Semi-pro Football / Minor League Football - Team Points Records"](http://www.semiprofootball.org/minor/records/teampnts.htm). *www.semiprofootball.org*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["The Most Unbreakable Records in College Football"](https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2399074-the-most-unbreakable-records-in-college-football#:~:text=10.,Most%20Consecutive%20Shutouts%20(Regular%20Season)&text=Tennessee%27s%2017%20consecutive%20regular%2Dseason,19%2C%201940). *[Bleacher Report](/source/Bleacher_Report)*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wg_cs_3-0)** ["What Does it Mean to Have a "Clean Sheet"?"](http://www.wisegeek.com/what-does-it-mean-to-have-a-clean-sheet.htm). *wiseGEEK*. Retrieved February 3, 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Wolves 0–0 Burnley: The pick of the stats"](https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/cqn5vxvp95xo). *BBC Sport*. December 2, 2021. Retrieved December 6, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["'Phenomenal' Livi clean sheet record - Martindale"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/55872937). *BBC Sport*. Retrieved December 6, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [MLB.com](/source/MLB.com) (2010). ["Baseball Basics: Abbreviations"](http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/official_info/baseball_basics/abbreviations.jsp). Retrieved July 5, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sports Reference LLC (2010). ["Walter Johnson at Baseball-Reference.com"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/j/johnswa01.shtml). Retrieved July 5, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Sports Reference LLC (2010). ["Pete Alexander at Baseball-Reference.com"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/alexape01.shtml). Retrieved July 5, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Sports Reference LLC (2010). ["Yearly League Leaders & Records for Shutouts"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SHO_leagues.shtml). Retrieved July 5, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-BaseballRefSHO_10-0)** Sports Reference LLC (2013). ["Career Leaders & Records for Shutouts"](https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SHO_career.shtml). Retrieved August 27, 2013.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Gisondi, Joe (July 13, 2017). [*Field Guide to Covering Sports*](https://books.google.com/books?id=jq0KDgAAQBAJ). [Sage Publications](/source/Sage_Publications). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781506315706](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781506315706).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["New York Rangers at Washington Capitals Box Score — April 3, 1983"](https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/198304030WSH.html). *Hockey-Reference.com*. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** ["Vancouver Canucks at Nashville Predators Box Score — November 23, 2006"](https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/200611230NSH.html). *Hockey-Reference.com*. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["Toronto Maple Leafs at Montreal Canadiens Box Score — December 1, 2009"](https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/200912010MTL.html). *Hockey-Reference.com*. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Montreal Canadiens at Pittsburgh Penguins Box Score — March 26, 2013"](https://www.hockey-reference.com/boxscores/201303260PIT.html). *Hockey-Reference.com*. Retrieved April 20, 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["Pickard makes 41 saves, Oilers shut out Penguins | NHL.com"](https://www.nhl.com/news/edmonton-oilers-pittsburgh-penguins-game-recap-march-10). *www.nhl.com*. March 10, 2024. Retrieved April 23, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Munster 13–0 Connacht"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/my_club/munster/6204514.stm). *BBC News*. December 3, 2006. Retrieved March 26, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** ["World Cup Web 100% Unofficial"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061215234519/http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/1999.asp). *www.worldcupweb.com*. Archived from [the original](http://www.worldcupweb.com/WCrugby/1999.asp) on December 15, 2006.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["What is the Clean Sheet in Football / Soccer Betting - Definition"](https://silentbet.com/what-is-clean-sheet-in-football/). November 7, 2019.

## External links

- [Football (soccer) clean sheet statistics](http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/clsht.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20060627180414/http://stats.football365.com/dom/ENG/PR/clsht.html) June 27, 2006, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shutout](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutout) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shutout?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.