Rod Brind’Amour made a move Saturday night in the crease that changed everything going into Game 4: he pulled Frederik Andersen at the beginning of the the third and brought in Brandon Bussi with the Carolina Hurricanes behind Las Vegas.
Brind’Amour plainly determined he had seen enough of Andersen’s .750 save percentage as he had let up four goals on 16 shots over two periods.
Answered Bussi. Before allowing the game-winning goal, he saved 18 of 19 shots in 45:26 of play, carrying the Hurricanes through a complete third period and into overtime.
This series is currently being led by Las Vegas with a 2-1 record.
After the game, Brind’Amour didn’t dodge the issue.
He stated, “There’s no need to retain Freddie in there given the way that game was developing.” “Bussi gave us an opportunity. The overtime victory is a hard pill to swallow. Because he was performing so well, I feel bad for him.
That’s as evident a vote of confidence in a backup as you’ll hear from a coach who recently witnessed his squad lose.
Andersen’s postseason stats are now impossible to ignore.
Andersen has recorded three shutouts and a .910 save percentage in 16 postseason games this season. That is a really excellent collection of work. But last night wasn’t like that at all.
Regardless of your background, scoring only four goals on 16 shots is the type of performance that will put you on the bench. The moment wasn’t his, like a star pitcher pulled from a World Series game in the third inning.
Bussi has been one of the more interesting stories in this Carolina run. In 39 starts during the regular season, he had a record of 23-6-6 and an .893 save percentage. He made his postseason debut yesterday night.
He made $775,000 this season. Against the cap, Andersen counts $2.75 million.
Right now, the only concern is what Brind’Amour will do in Las Vegas on Tuesday for Game 4.
Without hesitation, he gave Bussi his support in public. It’s not nothing coming from a coach who usually says less than he intends.
This is the biggest goaltending decision of Carolina’s season if Bussi plays Game 4. Brind’Amour will have some explaining to do to a locker room that saw him use his post-game platform to praise the opposition if Andersen regains the net.
The series is tied by a razor’s edge. It is now completely bypassed by one crucial decision.
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