Going into the shortened season, it was pretty much a given that backup goaltenders were going to play a pivotal role for several NHL teams.

This season has turned out to prove just that as several starting goaltenders have missed time this season. Teams like the Chicago Blackhawks (Corey Crawford), Anaheim Ducks (Jonas Hiller), Ottawa Senators (Craig Anderson), New Jersey Devils (Martin Brodeur), Carolina Hurricanes (Cam Ward) and a few others have all had their starters out of the lineup.

While it is clearly negatively impacting teams such as the New Jersey Devils and St. Louis Blues, a few backup goaltenders have managed to raise their game to another level and give their teams quality play and plenty of wins. They may not be starters but the five goaltenders listed above have certainly played that way and did everything they could to help their team while their starting masked man was on the mend.

Viktor Fasth, Anaheim Ducks

When Anaheim Ducks’ netminder Jonas Hiller is on his game, there is no doubt that he is one of the best goaltenders in the league.

After playing 73 games last season as the team’s undisputed starter, Hiller has experienced a different campaign in 2013. Hiller suffered a lower-body injury in early February and instead of floundering, the Ducks found their game and became one of the league’s best teams.

This was namely due to the play of 30-year-old rookie goaltender Viktor Fasth. Fasth started his season by going 8-0, posting a 1.78 GAA, a .933 save percentage and picking up one shutout.

While Hiller is back with the team, he finally has competition and will have to work extremely hard in order to get the net back from Fasth.

Ray Emery, Chicago Blackhawks

Every once in awhile, there will be a NHL team that has two players that can both be starting goaltenders.

This is exactly the case for the league’s best team, the Chicago Blackhawks. Blackhawks “starting” goaltender Corey Crawford has been in and out of the lineup with various injuries and as a result, “back-up” goaltender Ray Emery has started his fair share of games this season.

When Crawford was injured, the team had not lost a game in regulation. In his absence, Emery did his part and kept the team’s point streak alive by playing extremely well between the pipes. In 10 games this season, the 30-year-old is 9-0 with a 2.02 GAA (fifth in the league), and a .926 save percentage (sixth in the league).

It will be interesting to see who is between the pipes for the Blackhawks come playoff time.

Ben Bishop, Ottawa Senators

Through the first month of the season, Ottawa Senators’ shot-stopper Craig Anderson was perhaps the best goaltender in the league.

That all changed when Anderson sprained his ankle in a game against the New York Rangers on February 21. While it was definitely a big loss for the Senators, the team is more than alive in the playoff hunt and it is because of the great play of goaltender Ben Bishop.

Bishop has long been touted as a strong goaltender with starter potential written all over him. With Anderson injured, Bishop has proved his mettle and has gone 4-3 with a 2.15 GAA (eighth in the league), and a .938 save percentage (third in the league).

If Bishop keeps up his fine play, Anderson may have to fight to get the starter’s role back.

Ben Scrivens, Toronto Maple Leafs

For several years, goaltending has always been a primary concern for the Maple Leafs.

This season, however, has been a much different story. When James Reimer, who was playing very well at the time, went down with a lower-body injury in a game against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 11, Ben Scrivens took over in net and certainly did his part to hold down the fort.

In 12 games this season, Scrivens is 6-6 with a 2.41 GAA, a .923 save percentage and two shutouts. While his record may not indicate it, Scrivens did his job in keeping the Leafs in almost every game he started, making big saves when he needed to and inspired confidence in his teammates.

With Reimer back, Scrivens is still getting some playing time and that may continue all the way up until the end of the regular season.

Dan Ellis, Carolina Hurricanes

Since the 2005-06 season, the Carolina Hurricanes’ goaltender has always been Cam Ward.

Ward has always been a workhorse between the pipes and someone who would get the majority of the starts, put up great numbers and would not give the back-up much of a chance to play. That has all changed this season thanks to Ward’s injured medial collateral ligament.

While an injury like this would have certainly devastated the team in previous years, it may not be the case this season. Dan Ellis, the team’s backup goaltender, has played well this year, going 3-2 with a 2.53 GAA, a .923 save percentage and one shutout.

For the Hurricanes to stay atop the Southeast Division and remain in the top eight in the Eastern Conference, Ellis is going to need to elevate his game to a higher level to give his team a chance to get into the postseason.