Bussi expected to start Game 5, Hurricanes make cryptic comments on Freddie Andersen

The Carolina Hurricanes appear ready to ride the hot hand of Brandon Bussi in Thursday night's pivotal Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. The 27-year-old rookie was spotted in the starter's net during the morning skate at Lenovo Center in Raleigh, signaling that head coach Rod Brind'Amour plans to stick with the goaltender who helped even the series at two games apiece with a strong showing in Game 4.

Meanwhile, Frederik Andersen, who had started all 16 of Carolina's previous playoff games this spring, was notably absent from the team's morning skate session. Brind'Amour revealed that the veteran Danish netminder did get on the ice earlier in the morning before the main group arrived, and he stressed that every player on the roster would be available for Thursday's contest. The coach stopped short of officially naming a starter, but all signs point to Bussi getting the nod once again.

From waiver claim to Stanley Cup starter

Bussi's journey to the Stanley Cup Final is nothing short of remarkable. He went undrafted after his junior season at Western Michigan and spent four years grinding it out in the American Hockey League with Providence, even logging a brief stint in the ECHL with Maine during the 2022-23 campaign. After signing with the Boston Bruins as a free agent in 2022, he eventually moved on to the Florida Panthers on a one-year, two-way deal in July 2025. His path took yet another turn when the Hurricanes claimed him off waivers in early October after Florida attempted to send him down to their AHL affiliate in Charlotte.

What happened next was something nobody could have predicted. With Pyotr Kochetkov limited to just nine regular-season games due to a lower-body injury requiring surgery and Andersen battling inconsistency, Bussi became Carolina's workhorse. He made a team-high 39 starts and compiled a stellar 31-6-2 record with a 2.47 goals-against average, a .895 save percentage, and two shutouts. Despite those impressive numbers, he hadn't appeared in a single playoff game until the Hurricanes desperately needed him in the Stanley Cup Final.

That moment came in Game 3 when Andersen was pulled after surrendering four goals on 16 shots through two periods. Bussi entered cold, not having played since April 14, and turned aside 18 of 19 shots in relief. Although Carolina ultimately fell 5-4 in double overtime on a fluky bounce off the end boards, Bussi's performance gave Brind'Amour confidence. The coach consulted with goaltending coach Paul Schoenfelder, who told him simply that Andersen could use a break. That conversation lasted about a minute, and the decision was made to hand the reins to the rookie for Game 4.

Bussi delivered, stopping 18 of 21 shots in a 5-3 victory in Las Vegas on Tuesday night. He wasn't flawless, as he allowed a pair of second-period goals to William Karlsson and Brett Howden that he probably wishes he could have back. But when the game was on the line in the third period, Bussi was perfect, turning away all nine Vegas shots to lock down the win. Across his two appearances in the Cup Final, he has stopped 36 of 40 shots for a 2.28 GAA and .900 save percentage.

Andersen's decline and what lies ahead

Andersen had been sensational through the first two rounds of the postseason, posting a .950 save percentage and a 1.12 GAA while sweeping both Ottawa and Philadelphia. But his play took a sharp downturn starting in the Eastern Conference finals. Since Game 1 of that series, his save percentage dropped to .856 with a 2.77 GAA. Against Vegas specifically, the numbers were even more alarming, as he allowed 12 goals on 65 shots for a dismal .815 save percentage before being pulled in Game 3.

Despite those struggles, Brind'Amour maintained that Andersen is not dealing with an injury. The 36-year-old, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July, simply needed time to reset. Whether that reset leads to Andersen reclaiming the crease later in the series remains to be seen, but for now, the moment belongs to Bussi.

The rookie from Sound Beach, New York, has embraced the spotlight with the kind of composure you rarely see from a first-year player. After his Game 4 win, he deflected questions about it being the biggest victory of his career, saying he would appreciate it more once the season was over. His teammates have taken notice of his attitude throughout the playoffs, with Nikolaj Ehlers praising Bussi for showing up to the rink every day with a smile and working relentlessly to stay sharp despite not playing.

Third-string goalie Kochetkov, who served as the backup in Game 4 and was again in the second net at morning skate, has yet to appear in a playoff game during this run. He could once again dress as Bussi's backup on Thursday.

Game 5 is set for Thursday evening at Lenovo Center, where Carolina will look to seize a 3-2 series lead before heading back to Las Vegas for Game 6 on Sunday. If a Game 7 is needed, it would take place in Raleigh on Wednesday.