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An NHL backup stays ready by following a pregame routine, warming up even when not expected to play, and adjusting if the starter becomes unavailable. The exact routine varies: a backup may use a lighter warmup than a starter, while a late change during warmups can leave little time to prepare. There is no single short-notice protocol documented across the league.
How does an NHL backup goalie stay ready?
A rostered backup is part of the team and goes through its practice, travel and pregame routines. Being listed as the backup does not mean being finished for the night: NHL.com describes goalies warming their bodies, eyes and minds because they may be called into the game.
Joey Daccord of the Seattle Kraken described the uncertainty: “Any goalie will tell you that when you back up, yeah, it is a little less mental stress, but at the same time it’s always the back of your head that you may have to go in, and you always have to be ready.” The account also highlights the mental and physical cost of dressing without starting. NHL.com, “Unmasked: Rest key for goalies with condensed schedule” (November 14, 2025)
Do backup goalies warm up differently?
Sometimes. Daccord said his warmup was different and less strenuous when he was not starting. That is one goalie’s reported approach, not a league-wide duration or prescribed routine; the available accounts do not establish a standard warmup for backups.
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If the backup is suddenly needed, the adjustment may happen on the ice. In a Penguins game, Matt Murray left warmups and Marc-Andre Fleury took over as starter. Fleury tried to get more shots to prepare, while Tristan Jarry got dressed to serve as backup. Jarry recalled: “You don’t have much time to think about it.” This is an example of a rapid switch, not a universal instruction for goalies. NHL.com, “Marc-Andre Fleury steps up for Penguins in Game 1”
What happens if an NHL goalie becomes unavailable before a game?
A change can involve more than putting on equipment. Parker Milner, then a Washington Capitals practice goalie, recalled noticing after morning skate that game socks had been placed in his stall. He later learned the team was checking whether he could serve as backup under the applicable rules. He said he found out around 2:30 or 3 p.m., while heading to the rink and preparing to warm up. His account illustrates that a late backup change can require eligibility and team logistics as well as physical preparation. NHL.com, “Milner discusses life as Capitals practice goalie, EBUG in Q&A with NHL.com”
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How do rest and workload affect readiness?
Readiness is not simply a matter of doing more work. NHL.com describes teams using three goalies to give a starter or backup a full night away from the rink on selected games, including during back-to-backs. In practice, goalies may work on position-specific skills with a goalie coach while avoiding team drills that involve additional saves and butterfly drops. The aim is to manage workload while keeping the goalie prepared.
Daccord said that being dressed but not starting could disrupt sleep and make it harder to plan workouts. He also reported using NHL Sense Arena for virtual-reality goalie practice on days he rested from skating. That is his reported example, not evidence that backups generally use VR or that the league endorses the product. NHL.com, “Unmasked: Rest key for goalies with condensed schedule” (November 14, 2025) NHL.com, “Unmasked: Teams getting creative in giving No. 1 goalies extra rest” (January 26, 2024)
Rank #3
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What does an emergency backup goalie do?
An emergency backup goalie (EBUG) is not the same as a rostered NHL backup. The NHL.com account for the 2026-27 season says each team must designate an EBUG who dresses, wears No. 00, practices and travels with the team. It describes eligibility limits: the EBUG must not have played an NHL game under a standard player contract, must have played no more than 80 professional games, and must not have played professional hockey in the preceding three seasons. Those are the conditions reported for that season; consult the applicable agreement for authoritative rule wording. NHL.com, “List of NHL EBUGS for 2026-27 season” (October 2, 2026)
Historical EBUG accounts show the contingency role’s stakes, but should not be mistaken for typical rostered-backup preparation. Colorado Avalanche EBUG Justin Goldman said, “The last thing you want is to be caught unprepared,” and described preparing as if he might play that night. NHL.com, “Emergency goalies stay ready to fulfill NHL dreams at moment’s notice” (December 28, 2021)
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