RALEIGH — Brandon Bussi, claimed on waivers just days before the season opener, became one of the most important pieces of the Carolina Hurricanes team during the regular season.
Now the goaltender who won 31 games, earned a new contract and helped carry the Hurricanes to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference is largely a spectator at games — marveling, like many, at the run starter Frederik Andersen is on in the postseason.
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Carolina has won 12 of 13 playoff games to reach its first Eastern Conference Final since 2006.
“There’s no being upset because you’re not playing,’ said Bussi, who has yet to play in the Canes’ postseason run. “I’m proud to be a part of this group. I pulled on the rope during the regular season and if I’m called upon to pull it at all here in the final round then I’ll do it.”
Bussi, in his first NHL season, went 31-6-2 with a 2.47 goals against average in 39 starts during the regular season. He parlayed those sterling results into a three-year contract worth $5.7 million in February.
Andersen, 36, was 16-14-5 with a 3.07 goals against average and an .874 save percentage — career-worst marks across the board. But in the playoffs, Andersen has been near perfect: 12-1 with three shutouts, a 1.41 goals against average and a .931 save percentage.
“It’s been amazing,” Bussi said of Andersen. “The common thought that I have is his ability to stay so calm and manage his emotions and the highs and lows of games. The playoffs can be emotional. When you’re on the road, the crowd gets loud. How do you manage that? How do you keep cool? How do you find a way to make that save to calm things down and give our team confidence? That’s been very important and what he’s been doing has been great for us. He’s been the backbone.”
And, as a result, Bussi sits. He won’t play in the Stanley Cup Final, either, unless “there’s something going wrong,” Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour said before Game 1.
“Our goal as a team is to win it all,” Bussi said. “So I’m going to do what I can, working hard in practice to stay ready in case an opportunity happens. But I’m also working hard to make sure the guys are ready. As a team, our job is collectively to get it done.”
Bussi was a few hours south of Charlotte, home of the Florida Panthers’ minor-league affiliate, when he got the phone calls that would change his life in early October. First his agent, then Carolina general manager Eric Tulsky called with the news: Bussi had been claimed by the Hurricanes.
A few days later, he was in Raleigh.
Bussi won 10 of his first 11 starts and the Canes climbed aboard “The Bus.”
“He’s been nothing but an amazing teammate,” defenseman Sean Walker said. “I could understand where some people might think it’s tough for him, but he’s been so amazing. I think anybody in his position would be extremely happy to be where we’re at right now.”
Bussi’s year is only getting busier. He’s getting married in July and he’s used some of the breaks between playoff series to help with wedding planning.
There’s a small matter to deal with first.
“The dream is to have this opportunity,” Bussi said of playing for the Stanley Cup. “A lot of people hope to get opportunities like this. It’s exciting. It’s fun. It’s one of those things where you just work hard and leave it out there and don’t worry about what happens because you’ve got to appreciate moments like this.”
