NHL Rankings: Cory Schneider and the Top 10 Backup Goalies in the NHL

The hockey goalie has been called the loneliest man in sports.

But what about the backup goalie?

They have to bide their time and patiently wait to get into games. If they don't perform up to par, they're slammed by fans, although the expectations are never that high—they are, after all, only backups. And so they must wait for their next opportunity to redeem themselves.

In my opinion, this is a list of the best backups in the NHL this season. These 10 goalies have excelled when given the opportunity and haven't given their fans many reasons to complain.

10. Ray Emery, Anaheim Ducks

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ANAHEIM, CA - MARCH 16: Goalie Ray Emery #29 of the Anaheim Ducks skates on the ice in the game withthe St. Louis Blues at Honda Center on March 16, 2011 in Anaheim, California. Anaheim won 2-1. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

(3-0-0, .949 save percentage, 1.51 goals-against average, 0 shutouts)

Although he has only started three games for the Anaheim Ducks this season, something has to be said about the way Ray Emery has played.

Emery hasn’t played in the NHL in quite some time, and it’s as if he never missed a step. Dan Ellis, who the Ducks acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning, seems to be an afterthought.

Emery was honoured by being named the NHL’s second star of last week.

9. Alex Auld, Montreal Canadiens

(6-2-1, .922 save percentage, 2.39 goals-against average)

In his limited role, Auld, for the most part, has been good, if not great.

For someone who so rarely plays, Auld has the ability to shake off the rust and be in fine form when he is called upon.

He understands his role as the backup to Carey Price and he has never complained about the number of games that he plays.

8. Mathieu Garon, Columbus Blue Jackets

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COLUMBUS, OH - JANUARY 11: Goalie Mathieu Garon #32 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates against the Phoenix Coyotes during a game on January 11, 2011 at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

(10-10-5, .904 save percentage, 2.65 goals-against average, 3 shutouts)

Garon does a good job as a backup goalie on a not-so-great team.

In November, he posted back-to-back shutouts: an impressive feat, to say the least.

7. Jose Theodore, Minnesota Wild

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 08: Goaltender Jose Theodore #60 of the Minnesota Wild guards the net against the Pittsburgh Penguins on January 8, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

(12-10-3, .915 save percentage, 2.78 goals-against average, 1 shutout)

After Josh Harding’s season-ending MCL and ACL injuries in training camp, the Minnesota Wild were forced to look for a backup goalie late. They needed to find a solid goaltender that would be able to step in between the pipes on occasion to give Niklas Backstrom the occasional night off.

Enter Jose Theodore.

After not getting a contract offer through the offseason, Theodore took the job in Minnesota.

He has played his way into many more games than expected and he has done a fantastic job.

6. Johan Hedberg, New Jersey Devils

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DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 22: Goaltender Johan Hedberg #1 of the New Jersey Devils at American Airlines Center on February 22, 2011 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

(13-11-2, .913 save percentage, 2.34 goals-against average, 3 shutouts)

When Martin Brodeur went down to a knee injury in February, the 37-year-old Johan Hedberg stepped into the crease.

You might say that he did a good job.

The Devils went on a seven-game winning streak in front of Hedberg, during which he posted two of his three shutouts.

5. Tuukka Rask, Boston Bruins

Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images

OTTAWA, CANADA - MARCH 01: Tuukka Rask #40 of the Boston Bruins looks on during a TV timeout in a game against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place on March 1, 2011 in Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Phillip MacCallum/Getty Images)

(10-12-2, .917 save percentage, 2.75 goals-against average, 2 shutouts)

Tuukka Rask has had a very unlucky year. He came into the season as the starter for the Boston Bruins. Playing in one of the season openers in Europe, the Bruins looked flat and lost badly to the Phoenix Coyotes.

Coach Claude Julien decided to go with Tim Thomas in the Bruins’ next game. The rest, as they say, is history.

Rask has played very well in his starts but, for the most part, he has not been rewarded.

It seems that his frustration finally got the best of him last week when he lost his cool against his teammates after giving up a bad goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Rask—who was replacing Thomas after a bad start—was promptly pulled.

As for Rask’s future with the Bruins, I suppose time will tell.

4. Anders Lindback, Nashville Predators

(11-5-2, .915 save percentage, 2.60 goals-against average, 2 shutouts)

When Vezina candidate Pekka Rinne went down to injury, the Nashville Predators turned to Anders Lindback to shoulder the load. The 6’6” Swede fared pretty well for himself. Lindback went on a five-game winning streak in the month of December, a span that included back-to-back shutouts.

Lindback’s record in net speaks for itself, but his numbers back it up.

3. Brian Boucher, Philadelphia Flyers

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PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 08: Goalie Brian Boucher #33 of the Philadelphia Flyers looks up at the crowd during warmups before an NHL hockey game against the Edmonton Oilers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 8, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo

(17-8-4, .915 save percentage, 2.41 goals-against average, 0 shutouts)

Brian Boucher probably didn’t expect Philadelphia Flyers rookie Sergei Bobrovsky to steal his job as the starting goalie, but that doesn’t stop him from answering the call every time as a backup.

The Flyers know that they have a veteran who will go out there and give them every chance to win games when he’s playing, and they reciprocate by playing hard in front of him.

2. Brent Johnson, Pittsburgh Penguins

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PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 12: Goaltender Brent Johnson #1 of the Pittsburgh Penguins prepares to make a save on a shot from David Desharnais #58 of the Montreal Canadiens on March 12, 2011 at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jami

(11-5-3, .920 save percentage, 2.19 goals-against average, 1 shutout)

When Marc-Andre Fleury came out of the gate slow to start the season, the Pittsburgh Penguins turned to Brent Johnson. Johnson stepped up to the challenge and was rock-solid for his team when it needed him to be.

Obviously, Fleury has since rebounded and reclaimed his job. Johnson is doing a great job stepping into games when MA needs a rest.

1. Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks

(14-3-2, .927 save percentage, 2.22 goals-against average, 1 shutout)

Roberto Luongo is a great goaltender—there is no doubt about it. If there is one knock on Lou, it’s that he appears to tire out in the playoffs, especially the second round.

Fear not, Canucks fans—Cory Schneider is the top-rated backup goalie in the NHL.

Schneider has been unconscious this season, posting great numbers and getting the ‘Nucks points in 16 of the 19 games he has started.

The Canucks should take comfort in knowing that they have a backup who some teams would like as a starter.