NHL teams often split starts when they play on consecutive days, but there is no automatic rotation rule: coaches choose based on the goalies available, workload, form, health, travel, and the importance of each game. The goal is to balance a rested goalie’s freshness with the other goalie’s readiness and the starter’s individual rhythm.
What is a back-to-back, and does the NHL require teams to split it?
A back-to-back is a pair of team games played on consecutive days. Splitting the starts means one goalie plays the first game and another starts the second. NHL.com’s January 2022 feature on the Seattle Kraken described a split as typical, not mandatory. Then-coach Dave Hakstol put it this way: “Typically you’re going to have a split on the back-to-backs.” That describes a coaching approach, not a league requirement.
Teams do not follow one fixed rotation throughout a season, either. A starter might play both games, or the usual backup might start one, depending on the situation and who is healthy and ready.
What goes into the decision?
The question is which goalie gives the team the best chance in each game while keeping both goalies prepared for the schedule ahead. Former NHL goaltending coach David Marcoux described workload planning as a mix of game-to-game and season-long considerations; a goaltending coach can assess them and recommend a plan to the head coach.
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- Performance and health: Recent play, injury status, and each goalie’s physical and mental condition.
- Rhythm: Whether the goalie tends to benefit from regular starts or more time to recover.
- Travel and game context: Where the team is in its trip, the standings situation, and the stakes of the upcoming games.
- Backup readiness: Whether the other available goalie is prepared to make a competitive start.
These factors can point in different directions. A coach may prefer a rested goalie for the second game, but a strong recent performance, a health concern, or the importance of a particular matchup can change the plan.
Why split the starts?
Starting a different goalie on the second night gives the first one a break from game action and gives the team a fresher option. That can be especially appealing when the two goalies are close enough in expected performance. Managing workload also extends beyond one back-to-back: coaches consider cumulative minutes and whether preserving a top goalie could help in later regular-season games or playoff series.
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There is no established universal fatigue penalty that makes a split the right choice every time. Seattle Kraken/NHL.com reported that Eric Tulsky’s 2013 analysis found a save-percentage reduction of just over 11 percent for goalies who played both nights. The same January 2022 feature noted that later analyses by SportsMEDIA Technology’s Andrew Thomas and The Athletic’s Dom Luszczyszyn suggested the effect could be smaller. The 11 percent figure is a reported result from one analysis, not a guaranteed drop for an individual goalie or a universal measure of goals conceded.
The Kraken feature also cited a 2021-22 season-to-date example: through Jan. 2, its reported figures were 31.5 shots on goal and 28.4 saves per goalie. Those figures were used to illustrate the analysis at that time; they are not current league averages.
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Why might a goalie play both nights?
Goalies differ in how they respond to frequent play and rest. In 2021, goaltending coach Stephane Waite said of Corey Crawford, “Some goalies, the more they play the better they are,” contrasting his needs with Carey Price’s need for schedule management. Anaheim goaltending coach Sudarshan Maharaj summarized the variation: “It’s very individual.” Those comments illustrate differences among goalies; they do not establish a rule for today’s teams or players.
A coach may also trust the starter more than the backup for a particular game, or judge that the starter is healthy and better served by staying in rhythm. The choice still depends on the broader schedule and the goalie’s condition.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How teams manage rest beyond changing the starter
Teams can reduce a starter’s demands without simply alternating goalies. NHL.com reported in 2023 that Colorado coach Jared Bednar dressed two other goalies so his starter could have a complete day away from game-day duties. Bednar explained: “I didn’t even want him thinking about hockey today, so we dressed the other two guys.”
Other reported approaches include limiting demanding repetitions in practice, arranging focused work with a goalie coach, bringing in practice goalies, and planning travel so a goalie reaches the next city earlier. These are examples from particular teams and seasons, not a standard routine used by every NHL club.
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How often should the backup play?
Marcoux recommended in 2018 that a reliable backup play at least every 10 days to maintain rhythm and be prepared if the starter is injured. This was his coaching advice, not an NHL rule or a universal modern standard. NHL.com’s 2025 reporting on backup goalies likewise discussed the importance of game rhythm and confidence, while the appropriate workload remains a team decision.
Historical examples show why workload is managed in context rather than by one universal target. NHL.com’s 2023 feature discussed Devan Dubnyk’s 38-game starting run for Minnesota in 2014-15 alongside the management practices around that stretch. That dated example does not establish an ideal number of starts for goalies today.
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