BY: John Grigg

Is there a tougher job in major league sports than the seldom-used backup NHL goaltender?

Being a pro football kicker sure requires a thick skin and steely nerves; the line between hero or goat is thin and crossing it can be at the mercy of weather, even a bad snap. But at least kickers get their chances every game.

If you’ve backed-up for guys like Martin Brodeur, Miikka Kiprusoff or Henrik Lundqvist in recent seasons, you’re lucky to have seen action 10 times during a campaign. And when you do it’s generally against competition deemed inferior, so you better perform.


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