Oilers first NHL team to dress a full-time emergency backup goalie

Edmonton Oilers made history by becoming the first NHL team to officially dress a full-time emergency backup goalie for their game against Anaheim on Thursday night. Brett Epp donned the uniform while Matt Tomkins started as the fourth-string goalie. Tristan Jarry was absent due to illness, and Devon Levi and Frederik Andersen are currently injured.

This is the first season in which NHL teams have been mandated to have Emergency Back-Up Goalies (EBUGs) on their rosters. The EBUGs, wearing No. 00, are required to have played 80 games or fewer in their professional careers and cannot have been on a standard NHL contract or suited up professionally in the three campaigns prior to the current one.

In previous seasons, the home team was responsible for providing an EBUG if either side faced a goaltending injury or illness during a game.