Getty Images
Getty Images

The back-up goalies in the NHL this year have forgotten that they are back-ups.  The statistics speak for themselves.  Many back-ups have outplayed their starting teammate between the pipes.  This is great news for many NHL coaches, but has also started some goaltender controversies.  The following are the statistics for the top ten back-up goalies.

 

San Jose – Alex Stalock – 14 GP – 7-4-0 – 1.69 GAA – .939 SV%

Los Angeles – Martin Jones – 13 GP – 8-4-0 – 1.71 GAA – .940 SV%

New York Rangers- Cam Talbot – 16 GP – 10-4-0 – 1.78 GAA – .935 SV%

Anaheim – Fredrik Anderson – 17 GP – 14-2-0 – 1.94 GAA – .931 SV%

Montreal – Peter Budaj – 14 GP – 6-4-1 – 1.97 GAA – .926 SV%

Phoenix – Thomas Greiss – 14 GP – 7-4-1 – 2.09 GAA – .932 SV%

Getty Images
Getty Images

Carolina – Anton Khudobin – 17 GP – 12-4-0 – 2.16 GAA – .927 SV%

Winnipeg – Al Montoya – 16 GP – 9-4-1 – 2.22 GAA – .925 SV%

Vancouver – Eddie Lack – 21 GP – 8-7-3 – 2.28 GAA – .919 SV%

Boston – Chad Johnson – 15 GP – 9-3-0 – 2.30 GAA – .919 SV%

 

Having a quality two-man goaltending team is a great problem for teams to have.  Players tend to play better if another quality guy is pushing him.   These statistics also make some of these high dollar, long-term contracts signed by goalies very questionable.  Do owners have to sign long-term deals for goalies, or is a three-year bridge contract make more sense?  Having a great back-up can also be very important heading into the playoffs.  Is two man goalie tandems the wave of the future?