4 goalies carrying seemingly unsustainable workloads

The NHL is quickly turning into a two-goalie league.

In the past, the workhorse netminder was a staple, with one player carrying the majority of the starts over the course of an 82-game season. Even following the 2004-05 lockout, 26 goalies recording at least 70 starts from 2005-06 to 2010-11.

Over the past five regular seasons, however, only four goalies have made 70 or more starts:

While it's still early in the season, there are no fewer than four goalies on pace to reach the 70-start mark.

Here's a quick look at the NHL's new workhorses:

Cam Talbot

With 21 starts through 23 games, the Edmonton Oilers' Cam Talbot is on pace for 75 - a number reached only eight times by five different goalies over the past decade.

Talbot has posted an 11-8-0 record with a .921 save percentage to date, playing a big part in Edmonton's somewhat unexpected rise to first place in the Pacific Division.

Jonas Gustavsson waits in the wings as his backup, so it stands to reason head coach Todd McLellan will continue to call Talbot's number as long as he's able to play.

Sergei Bobrovsky

After starting 18 of 20 games to date, the 2013 Vezina Trophy winner is on pace to start 74 games for the Columbus Blue Jackets - a somewhat troubling forecast considering Sergei Bobrovsky's recent groin injuries.

Not ideal, but doable, head coach John Tortorella told Tom Reed of the Columbus Post-Dispatch, but with one caveat:

"I don't do the math ... I'm not a numbers guy."

General manager Jarmo Kekalainen offered a more measured response.

"Bob is our No. 1 goalie and we're going to monitor the situation very close ... to make sure we don't overload him or overwork him," he said. "But he's going to play most of our games no matter who our backup is."

The backup, for the time being, is Curtis McElhinney.

Martin Jones

The San Jose Sharks appear to have struck gold by acquiring Martin Jones.

Since coming over from Boston after he was sent there by rival Los Angeles, Jones has been as reliable as they come, and - with 19 starts in 22 games - is on pace to start 71 games for the Sharks this season.

The other goalie on San Jose's roster is 27-year-old Aaron Dell, who went undrafted and has four career appearances at the NHL level on his resume - all of which have come this season.

Frederik Andersen

For better or worse, the Toronto Maple Leafs are placing their already slim playoff hopes on the back of Frederik Andersen. Thankfully, things have fallen on the better side since a rough start to the season.

Andersen was acquired from Anaheim this past offseason, and promptly signed to a five-year contract extension - a deal that seemed questionable at best back in October. In November, however, he has displayed the kind of game that led Toronto to bank on him.

Jhonas Enroth hasn't proved himself capable of effectively easing Andersen's load, putting the No. 1 option in line to start 70 games for Mike Babcock.

- Statistics courtesy: NHL.com