The Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights’ Stanley Cup showdown has been epic. No lead has been safe with melodramatic comebacks in every game; the contests have been filled with goals galore and unbelievable momentum shifts. An opportunity presented itself with a vital Game Five, which would almost certainly decide the series. The winner of this crucial matchup in a tied series has won the Stanley Cup 20 out of 27 times, a 74.1 clip. Last night, Carolina grabbed the victory in its best performance of the series, 4-2.
Disney loves the underdog stories, and they are getting to present a classic one in Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi. Walt Disney owns ESPN, which is showcasing the Stanley Cup. Carolina Head Coach Ron Brind’Amour has transformed the series by switching to Bussi from playoff stalwart Frederik Anderson after a brutal second period in Game Three.
Bussi, after an excellent 31-6-2 regular season, sat for two months while Anderson dominated the playoffs, winning 12 out of 13 games. There is no more difficult challenge than being a backup goalie, especially after they have proven they can start. Bussi handled this with the impeccable character and class he has become renowned for.
Having to sit for a couple of months during the playoffs, while a tremendous challenge, is not the most difficult challenge Bussi has endured. No NHL team drafted him, which put his odds of making a professional roster, much less having a significant impact on one, as unlikely.
Bussi caught on with the Boston Bruins for a few years before getting a short stint with the Florida Panthers. His time in Miami lasted only three months before the Hurricanes claimed him last October. An undrafted player who experienced the NHL hot potato of teams passing him around knows he’d better take full advantage of any break he gets.
Bussi got a chance to make Carolina’s opening roster, filling in for injured Russian goalie Pyotr Kochetkov. Bussi impressed immediately and became the primary regular-season goalkeeper through his strong 2.47 goals per game average and .894 save percentage. Dependability became his calling card, and he meshed well with a deep and talented Hurricanes roster.
Bussi had to wait years for his break, so he knew how to handle sitting for a couple of months for the playoff equivalent. As he did in October, once the door of opportunity opened, he took advantage.
Vegas blitzed Carolina to four goals and what could have been six in Game Three’s second period. The Hurricanes’ defense played horrifically, allowing the Golden Knights to bullrush towards the net nonstop. Still, Anderson didn’t look right, and a move made sense.
Bussi stabilized Game Three, stopping 18 of 19 shots. He allowed the Hurricanes to come back with four goals in the third period and nearly pull off a remarkable win. His performance got him the start in Game Four, and he guided Carolina to a 5-3 victory, turning away 18 of 21 shots. He became only the third goalie in the expansion era to make his first career playoff start in the Stanley Cup.
Last night, Bussi made another start, and he played brilliantly, stopping 23 of 25 shots. He made one difficult turn after another, giving his team the chance to grab the game by the throat. His victory made him the first goalie ever to make his first two career playoff starts in the Stanley Cup and win both. Bussi’s fairytale-like emergence is a primary reason the Canes are moving towards grabbing the franchise’s second Stanley Cup. Jordan Staal is the other.
Staal, Carolina’s captain, is the heartblood of the organization. He has played in Raleigh since the 2012-13 season, coming off an excellent six years with the Pittsburgh Penguins. His character, discipline, and work ethic scream captain, and his teammates gladly follow his lead.
What an example he has set during the Stanley Cup! In a series that started with the Hurricanes losing a heartbreaking Game One after a fantastic start, it could have easily gone south. Many teams throughout the years have not recovered from an opening championship series gut punch. Staal, though, wouldn’t let that happen.
Staal scored on a critical power play in the third period of Game Two, helping lead Carolina to a crucial overtime victory. He put in a goal during the Hurricanes’ third-period goal rush in Game Three that nearly flipped an insurmountable lead. Staal banked in another shot, the game-winner in Game Four, his second of the night. In other words, whenever a critical play has been needed to shift the momentum, he has been right there.
Staal’s magnificence was on full display once more last night as he scored Carolina’s opening goal. This led to a huge shift in what up to that point had been full Vegas control. It should have been a surprise that his goal helped open the floodgates to Andrei Svechnikov and Sebastian Aho joining him. Staal has scored in every game in the Stanley Cup, putting him in select company.
Jean Beliveau and Maurice Richard were two Montreal Canadiens cornerstones during their remarkable run in the 1950’s, making ten straight Stanley Cups and winning six. They were the last players to score in the first five games of a Stanley Cup. Staal can now be included with them. This is the impact and the legacy that he is creating.
Have a reaction? Join the Stadium Rant iPhone App open sports community and tell us.
The Golden Knights have proven their championship mettle throughout this series. This is their third Stanley Cup appearance in the last nine years, with a title earned in 2023. Being down 3-2 isn’t going to faze them. Still, there is much to be excited about as a Hurricanes fan, especially the play led by Staal and Bussi.
Carolina’s power play struggled throughout the playoffs, hovering around a 13% success rate after one of the top regular-season performances at 24.%. The power play struggles were the only issue during the first three rounds, but they continued into the Stanley Cup as the Hurricanes failed in every Game One chance. Since then, though, the power play has clicked.
Since Game Two, Carolina has converted six out of fourteen power play opportunities, a nearly 43% pace. That is Stanley Cup-winning success, and this has helped shift the series into the Canes’ hands. The Hurricanes’ greatest strength is their tremendous depth; they have so many ways to beat an opponent. Over the last few games, that has been unleashed, and there is no greater illustration than the unlocking of the power play.
Aho and Svechnikov knocking home goals last night was another huge happening. Recently, it has felt like the top line hasn’t come to the Stanley Cup party. Vegas has also dealt with this as stalwarts like Jack Eichel have struggled. It stood to reason that whichever team’s top line got going first figured as the one most likely to bring home the Stanley Cup.
Aho and Svechnikov dominated the third period and helped Carolina separate last night in its easiest game of the series. That wasn’t a coincidence. The Hurricanes are getting contributions all over, the top line looks ready to pounce, and they are getting fantastic work from Bussi. These are the elements needed to take the most difficult fourth win against a proven Vegas champion. Many are anticipating a Game Seven back in Raleigh, but don’t be surprised if Carolina closes it out on the road Sunday night.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
