Bussi's Unexpected Impact
Brandon Bussi Delivers Stellar Performance Despite Hurricanes' Game 3 Overtime Loss
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Brandon Bussi, a 27-year-old goalie claimed off the NHL waiver wire just months ago, nearly pulled off one of the greatest upsets in Stanley Cup Final history on June 6. Entering cold in the second period with Carolina trailing Vegas 4-0, Bussi stopped 18 of the next 19 shots he faced — including a penalty shot — as the Hurricanes roared back to tie the game 4-4, only to fall 5-4 in double overtime on a fluky bounce off the end boards.
Shea Theodore's shot at 5:38 of the second overtime missed the net, caromed off the boards, hit Bussi's skate, and trickled in. The gut-punch goal gave Vegas a 2-1 series lead. "Probably the toughest game I ever lost," Andrei Svechnikov said, according to WRAL News.
From Waiver Wire to Stanley Cup Starter
Bussi's story is almost impossible to believe. The Hurricanes claimed him off waivers from the Florida Panthers on October 5, 2025, after losing starter Pyotr Kochetkov to injury, according to NHL.com. He was undrafted and largely unknown. He quickly made everyone pay attention.
Bussi went 31-6-2 in the regular season. He became the fastest goalie in NHL history to reach 10, 15, and 20 wins, according to Sports Illustrated. In April, he was voted the Hurricanes' Team MVP by local hockey writers — only the third goalie in franchise history to earn the honor. The Hurricanes locked him up with a three-year, $5.7 million deal in February.
Three Goals in 39 Seconds Shocked the Building
When Bussi took over at the start of the third period, Carolina still trailed 4-0. Starter Frederik Andersen had allowed four goals on 16 shots, including a natural hat trick by Mitch Marner — the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history, per CBS Sports. No NHL team had ever erased a 4-goal third-period deficit in a playoff game. Carolina tried anyway.
The Hurricanes scored three goals in just 39 seconds — the fastest three-goal burst by one team in Stanley Cup Final history, according to WRAL News. Martinook, Hall, and Staal struck in rapid succession to cut the lead to 4-3. Then, with 1:42 left in regulation, Svechnikov scored on a 6-on-4 power play to tie it 4-4. Coach Rod Brind'Amour said simply: "Bussi gave us a chance."
A Fluky Goal Ends a Heroic Night for Bussi
For more than 85 minutes of game time, Bussi held Vegas off the board. He even stopped Marner on a penalty shot — denying Marner a fourth goal at the most critical moment. Then came the double-overtime bounce. Theodore's shot missed the net entirely. It hit the boards, deflected off Bussi's skate, and slid into the goal. "You just get the puck to the net and good things happen," Theodore joked afterward, according to Sportsnet.
Bussi finished with 18 saves and his composure was unshaken. "My job was to put my head down and stop the puck," he said. "I'm proud of how the guys fought back." The Guardian noted that Carolina remains 0-109 all-time when trailing by four or more goals in the third period of a playoff game. They came closer than any team ever has.
Vegas Leads 2-1 But the Hurricanes Smell Blood
History favors Vegas. Teams that take a 2-1 lead in the Stanley Cup Final go on to win the championship 80.7% of the time — 46 of 57 instances — according to The Guardian. But Carolina's ability to erase a 4-0 road deficit has rattled the Golden Knights' locker room. Vegas coach John Tortorella admitted: "We couldn't do anything wrong in the second... couldn't do anything right in the third."
The biggest question now is who starts in net for Carolina in Game 4. Andersen went 13-2-0 this postseason but has allowed 13 goals in three Finals games. Bussi's composure under pressure — at just $1.9 million per year — makes the decision far from simple. Game 4 is set for Tuesday, June 9, back in Las Vegas.
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