When it comes to stopping a scorer in a one-on-one situation, NHL goalies are better than they’ve ever been.
The league-wide save percentage has dipped in recent years — steadily declining from .910 in 2019-20 to .900 this season — as offensive strategies improve and shooters find ways to beat goalies with screens, deflections and backdoor plays. Beating a goaltender with a clean shot has become incredibly difficult.
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Listen to the dressing room conversations after a team is shut out. You’ll hear players and coaches parrot the same reasons for the lack of goals.
“We needed more bodies in front of the net.”
“We didn’t get in the goalie’s eyes enough.”
“Goalies are too
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