Inside Brandon Bussi’s big night as the Hurricanes even up the Stanley Cup Final
We may not ever find out exactly when Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told Brandon Bussi he was starting Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday, but we know at least one thing about the timeline:
It was enough advance notice to get his parents on a plane from New York to Las Vegas to watch Bussi earn a win in his first NHL playoff start.
“My fiancé and her parents were here for Game 3, and then my parents scrambled to get here tonight,” Bussi said. “Not easy to get here from New York, so obviously means a lot for all the people to show up and support us.”
But when did he know, really?
“I’m going to let Rod talk to you about when he told me,” Bussi said, remaining coy about the timing of the team’s communication surrounding its starting goalie. “All that matters is that I found out at some point.”
Bussi’s entourage was among several hundred Hurricanes fans at T-Mobile Arena on Tuesday who got to watch the Canes hold off the Golden Knights, 5-3, in another wild game in a series full of them.
To be cast into a series in which 33 goals have been scored between the teams in just four games – more than eight total goals per game on average for two of the tightest-checking teams in the NHL — could have been tough for Bussi. It probably was. But he’s not showing it, not in the game, nor afterward.
Bussi saw six shots in the first period Tuesday — the most the Canes have allowed in a first period this series — and he stopped all but one.
“Getting some work early, some shots or zone time stuff, it makes it a little easier to get into the game,” Bussi said. “I think it’s a back and forth game, goalies making saves here and there, so I guess I felt in a good rhythm.”
The second periods in the Stanley Cup Final have been the Canes’ Achilles heel. Including the two they allowed Tuesday, Vegas has outscored Carolina 9-1 in the four second periods in this series.
But even that didn’t seem to rattle Bussi.
“He was phenomenal,” Brind’Amour said. “He got a taste of it the other night, and kind of just picked up right where he left off, I thought. We gave up breakaways, some breakdowns. He was just really solid all night.”
Added forward Logan Stankoven: “He was great, made some big saves early, kind of settled things down. It’s nice to see him play with some confidence, and hopefully he can keep rolling with the ball.”
The latest on Frederik Andersen
So, what about Freddie?
Not only did Andersen not start Tuesday, he wasn’t even the backup. Pyotr Kochetkov, whose last game action was in December, was dressed as the Hurricanes’ extra goalie. Andersen did not dress, though it was reported that he would be the Canes’ emergency backup if needed.
How did Brind’Amour come to that decision?
“It was a minute conversation with our goalie coach, and he said Freddie needs a little break,” Brind’Amour said. “So we went with the other guy.”
But why not dress him as the backup?
“If you’re going to give him a break, you need to give him a break,” Brind’Amour continued. “Him dressing, and going through all that, it’s not really giving him a night off, so that’s it.”
What’s next for Andersen, Bussi?
Meanwhile, Bussi was at least briefly relishing in his star turn. Sure he won 31 games in his first season in the NHL. But that was the regular season. This is the Stanley Cup Final.
“We’re going to enjoy this one tonight,” Bussi admitted, “but come tomorrow, we’re going to be focused on Game 5. Personally, I don’t think I’ll be able to appreciate this until the season’s over.
“The next win’s always the best win,” Bussi added. “That’s all I’ll say about that.”
Whether the next opportunity for the Hurricanes to earn a win in these playoffs is going to rest with Bussi or Andersen won’t be answered soon, perhaps not until Thursday night.
“We’ll make that decision (Wednesday) at some point, likely, or maybe even the morning of the game,” Brind’Amour said. “I’m not making any decisions yet.”
But, one thing is for sure:
“Whatever happens, I’ll be ready to go,” Bussi said.
Of that, there is little doubt.
