As the Wisconsin’s men’s hockey team approaches the home stretch and eyes the Big Ten tournament, they will depend on their senior goaltender to keep them alive, but not necessarily senior Joel Rumpel.

For four seasons, Landon Peterson has served as a backup goaltender for the Badgers, understanding that it only takes one moment to send him off the bench and into the line of fire.

While much has changed since Peterson arrived in 2011, one thing that’s remained constant for the senior goaltender from Oregon, Wisconsin, is maintaining the readiness to help the team whenever his number is called.

“You just always have to be ready and you always have to prepare the same way as if you’re starting a game,” Peterson said. “You never know what’s going to happen in or out of the game.”

Peterson has already stepped in for the Badgers four times this season, starting twice and making 96 saves thus far.

For the other 24 games, it’s been starter Joel Rumpel in net. And considering Rumpel is coming off second-team All-Big Ten honors last year and is seen by many as one of the top netminders in the conference, it’s easy to understand why Peterson’s opportunities can be scarce. The shortage of playing time in his senior season doesn’t seem to bother Peterson, who explained he just wants whatever is best for his team.

While there is only room for one of them on the ice, Peterson said he and Rumpel are almost inseparable off it.

“Joel and I are really good friends on and off the ice,” Peterson said. “We have a really good bond.”

Rumpel said the two have been close friends ever since they arrived as freshmen together and room together on every road trip. Rumpel also explained that their friendship off the ice is matched by fierce competiveness when they get in goal in practice as they push each other to improve and battle for playing time.

“On the ice we’re pretty competitive,” Rumpel said. “We have to battle every day in practice to try to make each other better and try to get in the lineup.”

Rumpel added that he doesn’t envy how Peterson often has to come in the game so abruptly, which is much more difficult than starting since there’s no way to anticipate it or get warmed up.

No game exemplified that task for Peterson more than the Jan. 24 against Michigan when Peterson replaced Rumpel just two minutes into the game. As spontaneously as Peterson’s opportunity to play that night arrived, it vanished almost just as quickly when Rumpel was reinserted just 18 minutes later at the start of the second period.

If anything, that game showed Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves is not afraid to quickly go to Peterson if he feels a change is warranted or, in some cases, necessary. Wisconsin’s ideal scenario is for Rumpel to never leave the goal the rest of the season, but they know that it only takes a moment for an injury to make that scenario to change rapidly.

Although unlikely at this point in the season, Eaves has shown multiple times this year that he’s not afraid to pull his starter if they’re not playing to expectations. According to Eaves, a decision like that always comes down to what’s best for the team.

“We’ve pulled Joel a couple times and Peterson has jumped in there,” Eaves said. “If we felt it might be time to give the team a different look and put him in there, it would be because it’s what’s best for the team.”

Eaves cited Peterson’s strong work ethic in practice as a big reason why he’s fully confident his backup could come through for them if they needed to make a change in goal.

“He competes so hard in practice,” Eaves said. “He’d be ready to go. He’s not as big as Rumpel, but he competes, and I think that’s a strong factor.”

At 6-foot, Peterson is three inches shorter than Rumpel. Because of his smaller size, Peterson said he plays a different style that has him positioned further out from the net and that utilizes his quickness.

“I play more aggressive than Joel since Joel has a bigger body and is able to sit back more,” Peterson said. “I’m more active; I rely on my feet and my reactions help me out.”

Peterson’s style gives him some unique strengths, Eaves said.

“On breakways, he’s hard to score on because he comes far out and cuts down the things they can see in the back of the net, and then he backs in and meets them at the post,” Eaves said. “He’s tough to score on.”

Ever since he became a Badger, Peterson has never stopped preparing for when his time could come. That won’t change when it comes to possibly playing at the next level once his days as a Badger come to a close at this season’s end.

“If the chance comes, I’m definitely ready to take the next step forward,” Peterson said.