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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →An NHL backup goalie stays ready by completing a pregame routine, warming up body and focus, and remaining prepared to enter—even when the starter is expected to play. If the starter becomes unavailable late, the backup may have to adjust quickly. There is no single league-wide short-notice protocol in the available accounts: some goalies modify their warmup when they are not starting, while a change during warmups can require an immediate switch.
How does an NHL backup goalie stay ready?
A rostered backup is part of the team and follows its practices, travel, and game-day routines. NHL.com describes backups warming their bodies, eyes, and minds even on nights they are not expected to play, because they could be called into the game.
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Seattle Kraken goalie Joey Daccord described the tension of the role: backing up can mean less mental stress than starting, but a goalie still has to be ready to enter. That readiness is practical as well as mental: the backup dresses and goes through enough preparation to be able to play, rather than treating the game as a night off.
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 account, not a fixed NHL routine: the sources do not establish a standard warmup duration or a single approach used by every team.
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A starter’s expected preparation and a backup’s modified warmup are also different from a late change during warmups. In the latter case, a goalie may need to adapt to the new assignment rather than follow the preparation planned for the night.
What happens if an NHL goalie is injured or unavailable before a game?
The change can happen at different points, and the response depends on the circumstances. In a Capitals example, practice goalie Parker Milner noticed game socks in his stall after morning skate, then learned the team was checking whether he could serve as backup. He recalled finding out around 2:30 or 3 p.m., when he was heading to the rink and getting ready to warm up. The episode shows that a late change can involve eligibility and team logistics as well as getting dressed.
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A more immediate change occurred with the Pittsburgh Penguins: Matt Murray left warmups, and Marc-Andre Fleury took over as starter. Fleury tried to get more shots to prepare for the game, while Tristan Jarry began putting on equipment to become the backup. Jarry later recalled, “You don’t have much time to think about it.” This is an example of a response to that specific change, not a prescribed sequence for every goalie.
How do teams balance readiness with rest?
Being prepared does not mean every goalie has to carry a starter’s workload every day. NHL.com has reported teams using three goalies so a non-starting goalie can have a full night away from the rink, including in back-to-back situations. Rest can matter because being dressed but not starting can disrupt sleep and make it harder to plan a workout.
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Goalie practice can also be managed by focusing on position-specific skills with a goalie coach and limiting some team drills that involve extra saves and butterfly drops. Daccord said he used NHL Sense Arena for virtual-reality goalie work on days he rested from skating. That is a reported personal example, not evidence that all NHL goalies use VR training or that the league endorses the product.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How is an emergency backup goalie different?
An emergency backup goalie (EBUG) is a contingency role, not simply another name for a rostered NHL backup. NHL.com’s October 2, 2026 account of the 2026–27 season says each team must designate an EBUG who dresses, wears No. 00, practices, and travels with the team. The account lists eligibility limits: an 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. These are the reported terms for that season; consult the applicable agreement for legal precision.
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Historical accounts illustrate the stakes without describing 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. A rostered backup, by contrast, is already on the NHL team and follows its regular team routines.
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Sources
- NHL.com: “Unmasked: Rest key for goalies with condensed schedule”, November 14, 2025.
- NHL.com: “Emergency goalies stay ready to fulfill NHL dreams at moment’s notice”, December 28, 2021.
- NHL.com: “Milner discusses life as Capitals practice goalie, EBUG in Q&A with NHL.com.”
- NHL.com: “List of NHL EBUGS for 2026-27 season,” October 2, 2026.
- NHL.com: “Marc-Andre Fleury steps up for Penguins in Game 1.”
- NHL.com: “Unmasked: Teams getting creative in giving No. 1 goalies extra rest,” January 26, 2024.
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