## Lawless: Notes From November
Goaltending remains a key equalizer in today’s NHL. Exceptional netminding can conceal many team flaws, while weak goaltending often highlights those issues and undermines overall performance.
### The Impact of Goaltending
Strong goaltending frequently transforms a team’s fortunes, providing stability that allows other players to take more risks and perform better offensively. Conversely, inconsistent or poor goaltending puts additional pressure on defense and can disrupt team confidence.
> "Goaltending can be the great equalizer in today's NHL. Great goaltending can mask a lot of problems and poor goaltending can underscore a team's challenges."
This dynamic is especially crucial in close games and during playoff runs, where the margin for error is small and a hot goalie can carry a team to unexpected success.
### November Trends
Recent performances have reinforced the importance of solid netminding. Teams with elite goaltenders have found themselves climbing the standings, while those struggling between the pipes face tough battles to maintain playoff contention.
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**Author's summary:** Reliable goaltending significantly shapes NHL team success, often masking weaknesses or exposing deeper problems, proving essential for competitive consistency and postseason aspirations.
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NHL.com — 2025-12-01