Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteNHL teams do not follow one mandatory goalie rotation or a league-wide starts limit. Coaches weigh recovery, schedule and travel, health, recent performance, the gap between the starter and backup, practice needs, standings, and postseason plans. Splitting a back-to-back is common, but the order—and whether the non-starting goalie dresses at all—depends on the situation.
What coaches weigh when choosing a goalie
There is no established league-wide formula for deciding who starts or how many games a goalie should play. The decision is a balancing act: a coach wants the strongest available goalie for the game while preserving health and readiness across a demanding schedule. Former NHL goalie coach David Marcoux described late-season planning as a joint assessment: the goalie coach considers performance, physical health and mental state, then advises the head coach on a plan for both goalies. His NHL.com account identifies standings, travel, schedule density, previous and expected workload, and injuries as relevant factors; it is expert commentary, not an NHL rule. NHL.com, March 29, 2018.
- Recovery and cumulative workload: Coaches consider not just the last game, but the stretch of games ahead and the time available to recover.
- Schedule and travel: Consecutive games, long trips, and the timing of travel between cities can affect which goalie is best positioned to play.
- Health and performance: A starter’s strong form matters, but so do injuries, physical condition, and mental state.
- Backup quality and readiness: The difference between the two goalies influences how much a coach is willing to share starts, while the backup must remain ready in case the starter is unavailable.
- Team priorities: Standings and postseason ambitions can shape late-season choices, alongside the immediate opponent.
- Practice demands: Coaches may adapt practice work to the goalie’s workload and needs rather than treating every goalie’s preparation alike.
How teams handle back-to-back games
Teams commonly use both available goalies over two games played on consecutive days, but this is a tendency rather than an automatic rule. The coach may start either goalie in the first game depending on the opponent, each goalie’s rest since their last start, health, performance, and the broader schedule. Seattle Kraken coverage described splitting a back-to-back as a recent NHL standard in 2022, while emphasizing that the order can vary. Seattle Kraken / NHL.com, January 5, 2022.
That article summarized a 2013 analysis attributed to Eric Tulsky that found a just-over-11-percent reduction in save percentage when goalies played on consecutive days. The same article noted that later analyses by SMT’s Andrew Thomas and The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn found the effect less significant. The older estimate should be understood as one historical analysis, not a settled current effect size or a guarantee that a rested backup will outperform the starter. The article also reported 31.5 shots faced and 28.4 saves per goalie across 1,019 games through January 2 of the 2021-22 season; those figures describe that contemporaneous sample, not a current league-wide average. Seattle Kraken / NHL.com, January 5, 2022.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware match#1 Best Overall
- REFLEX BUILDER: The Champro Reaction Ball is designed to bounce randomly, so athletes can enhance their hand-eye coordination and improve reaction time.
- VERSATILE: Train with the Reaction Ball to prepare for any sport. Athletes honing their skills to perform in baseball, softball, football, soccer, or hockey games can decrease their reaction time, improve alertness, and enhance agility.
- SOLO OR PARTNER TRAINING: Train solo by throwing the reaction ball against a wall or work with a partner to create drills with extreme and unexpected flight paths.
- DURABILITY: The ball is made of highly durable, long-lasting rubber
- FUN: Not only is this item a great way to train for all sports, but it’s also an entertaining way to play with your dog, kids, or friends.
Why a backup may get the entire night off
Being the dressed backup is not the same as having a full rest day. A backup still travels to the rink, prepares and warms up, and must remain mentally ready in case the starter cannot continue. Seattle goalie Joey Daccord described that readiness as a continuing mental demand, even when backing up involves less stress than starting. Ottawa coach Travis Green described a night away from the rink as a useful mental break for Linus Ullmark. NHL.com, November 14, 2025.
Some teams have used a third goalie to give the starter a complete night off when not playing, rather than having the starter dress as backup. NHL.com’s 2025 examples included Seattle, Toronto, and Ottawa. The same report described Matt Murray traveling ahead to the next city to start the second game of a back-to-back while other goalies covered the first, and noted third-goalie arrangements by Montreal and Carolina for rest or travel reasons. These are team-specific examples, not evidence that every club carries three NHL goalies or uses the same approach. NHL.com, November 14, 2025.
Rank #2
- Innovative, slick pad wax, made with quality soy wax.
How backups stay prepared between starts
Backups can go long stretches between games, making timing and confidence difficult to maintain. Winnipeg Jets goalie Eric Comrie captured the uncertainty: “If I don’t play well this game, when am I going to play next?” NHL.com’s 2025 account described a league trend toward tandems and shared workloads, while noting that long gaps between starts still occur. NHL.com, March 21, 2025.
The goalie coach helps bridge the gap between team practice and game conditions. Backup goalies often face a high volume of shots in practice, but those shooter-focused repetitions can differ from the situations they encounter in a game. Coaches can balance team drills with technical and game-like work, confidence-building repetitions, and an adjusted practice load. Marcoux also argued for keeping a reliable backup who plays often enough to stay ready; that is his coaching perspective, not a formal league requirement. NHL.com, March 21, 2025 NHL.com, March 29, 2018.
Rank #3
- NOTE: Please select either the small or large size according to the dimensions of the hockey goal to avoid sizing errors.
- 72" GOALIE SHOOTING TARGET:Upgraded 7-hole layout, highly replicating the scoring area in a match. Practice shooting by hitting the corners and beating the goalkeeper to effectively improve shooting accuracy and technique.
- 600D THICKENED TARGET NET : This hockey shooting tarp is made of thickened 600D polyester fabric with reinforced stitching, providing stronger wear resistance and water repellency. It can withstand the most difficult shots while maintaining its shape and withstanding various environmental tests.
- REALISTIC GAME SCENARIOS: High-contrast, realistic goalkeeper patterns recreate real game scenarios. Through intensive training focused on locking onto target areas, players can learn to break through the goalkeeper's defence in real matches.
- EASY TO INSTALL: Reinforced straps fit snugly on any standard 72" X 48" Hockey Goal and can be installed in less than a minute, completely solving the problem of target net displacement during training. The foldable structure is convenient for transportation and storage.
Ordinary backup versus emergency backup
The ordinary backup is part of the team’s planned goalie workload: that goalie practices with the club, stays prepared to enter, and may start when the coach chooses to share the work. An emergency backup goalie (EBUG) is a separate contingency for an emergency, not a substitute for a team’s normal starter-and-backup plan.
NHL.com reported on October 2, 2026, that beginning with the 2026-27 season each team is required to roster an emergency backup goalie. The report says an EBUG must meet experience restrictions, wears No. 00, practices, and travels with the team. NHL.com, October 2, 2026.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Two (2) Regulation Ice Hockey Training Pucks
- Great Training Tool for Goalies
- Manufactured by Inglasco, Official Puck Supplier to the NHL
- Official Size (3" Diameter) & Weight (6 oz.)
- Color: White
Rank #4
- 54" GOALIE SHOOTING TARGET: Practice your shooting by hitting the corners and beating the goaltender with this easy attach practice target
- EASY SET UP: Adjustable self-stick straps wrap around the goal posts for easy and quick installation on any standard 54" x 44" goal
- DURABLE FLEX FABRIC: The rugged nylon fabric is built tough to handle even the hardest slap shots and the waterproof construction ensures that this target can stand up to the elements
- IMPROVE YOUR SKILLS: This dynamic 54" goalie shooting target is perfect for practicing shot accuracy and location to help you become an elite goal scorer!
- OFFICIAL STREET HOCKEY BALL: Designed for use with official 2 5/8" street hockey ball only
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
