Dallas Stars coach Glen Gultuzan indicated yesterday that the club may choose to go into the abbreviated 2013 season with three goaltenders. Given the heavy schedule of games and practices in the next few weeks, Gulutzan said there may be a need to spread around the early work.

Kari Lehtonen, of course, will get the bulk of the playing time once the regular season starts. But the team needs to be cautious right now, given Lehtonen's history of groin and back problems and the fact that he did not play during the lockout.

In the meantime, I have to wonder if Richard Bachman is going to be in a dogfight to retain the number two job once the team pares down to two goalies. Three reasons:

1) As a small goalie who was unheralded before last season, he's the type of goalie who has to prove himself year after year.

2) Bachman did not play during the lockout, while Cristopher Nilstorp was active in the AHL. That puts Bachman at a potential disadvantage in terms of sharpness right off the bat.

3) Nilstorp has made a quick transition to North American hockey after coming over from Sweden as older player. He also has six inches of height on Bachman.

As such, I would not be shocked if things end up playing out that Nilstorp ends up backing up Lehtonen while Bachman could end up getting some games in Austin.

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