The Carolina Hurricanes have a difficult decision to make before Tuesday’s Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. Coach Rod Brind’Amour said Sunday he would not commit to a starting goaltender, leaving the door open for 27-year-old Brandon Bussi to make his first career postseason start after a strong relief appearance in Game 3.
Bussi, an undrafted netminder from Sound Beach, New York, stopped 18 of 19 shots after replacing Frederik Andersen to start the third period on Saturday. The only goal against him came on a double-overtime winner by Shea Theodore, which deflected off Bussi’s skate off the end boards. The Knights won 5-4, taking a 2-1 series lead.
Andersen, 36, has struggled in the series, allowing 12 goals in three starts. He was pulled after giving up four in the second period of Game 3. Through the first three rounds, the veteran had surrendered 20 goals total while leading the Hurricanes to a 12-1 record.
“I don’t anticipate any changes,” Brind’Amour said. “We’ll talk about that after practice tomorrow, kind of the lineup. But I don’t make any decisions now. We’ll see how guys are feeling and stuff like that but probably after skate tomorrow or maybe not even then. I don’t know. I don’t anticipate a lot of changes to our lineup.”
When asked specifically about Andersen, Brind’Amour added: “We’ll see how (Andersen’s) feeling. I haven’t made any decisions on the lineup, so I can’t tell you.”
Bussi was claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5 and went on to win 31 of 39 starts with a 2.47 goals-against average and an .895 save percentage during the regular season.
“(Bussi) played well,” Brind’Amour said Saturday. “There’s no reason to leave Freddie in there the way that game was going. He gave a little boost. Hate it for him because he was playing great. That’s hockey.”
Carrier injured
Former Knights forward William Carrier left Game 3 with 5:28 remaining in the second period after an apparent arm injury from a check. Brind’Amour had no update, saying he was hopeful Carrier would be fine. Carrier has four assists this postseason.
Smith sets hits record
Knights forward Cole Smith set a Stanley Cup Final record with 14 hits in Game 3. The previous record of 12 was shared by Andrew Cogliano (2022) and Barclay Goodrow (2020). Smith had 14 of the Knights’ 66 hits. “Playoffs, I think, all teams try to add a physical element to their game. Both teams are doing it. It’s just part of the game,” coach John Tortorella said.
