Andersen or Bussi? Canes face decision in net for Game 4 of Stanley Cup Final

LAS VEGAS — For the first time since the playoffs began seven weeks ago, coach Rod Brind’Amour and the Carolina Hurricanes face a real decision about who to start in the net ahead of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final.

After a 5-4 double overtime victory in Game 3, Vegas leads the best-of-seven series 2-1. Game 4 is Tuesday night in Las Vegas, the first time in the series that there’s been more than one day between games.

And it’s not certain who will be in net for the Hurricanes between veteran Frederik Andersen and backup Brandon Bussi.

“I don’t anticipate any changes,” Brind’Amour said Sunday. “We’ll talk about that after practice [Monday], kind of the lineup. I don’t make any decisions now. We’ll see how guys are feeling. … I don’t anticipate a lot of changes to our lineup.”

When pressed if that meant Andersen would be in net, Brind’Amour reiterated: “We’ll make all the decisions after we practice [Monday].”

Andersen, a veteran, carried the Canes through the Eastern Conference playoffs but has allowed 12 goals in less than three games in the Cup final, including four goals in the second period of Game 3 before being pulled before the third.

Bussi, a waiver wire pickup just days before the season, carried the Canes to the No. 1 seed in the regular season and stopped 18 shots in relief of Andersen in Game 3, allowing the Hurricanes to rally and force double overtime. 

Bussi allowed the game winner off a bad bounce on a wide shot that caromed off the board behind the net and hit his skate.

“He played well,” Brind’Amour said after the game. “I hate that’s the goal that ended it. Nothing you can do. Bad break.”

Andersen has started all 16 games in the postseason for the Hurricanes (13-3), but his effectiveness has waned as the playoffs have progressed. His goals against average has climbed each series from 1.10 to 1.14 to 1.91 and, in the Stanley Cup Final, 4.44.

Outside of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference Final against Montreal, Andersen didn’t allow more than two goals in any games. He allowed four in a single period in Game 3 — and that doesn’t count two goals that were disallowed.

“We probably could have been a little better for Freddie there in the second,” Bussi said.

It was certainly not all on Andersen. The Carolina defense allowed several breakaways and clean looks in front of the net. One goal went in off defenseman Sean Walker’s stick on a clear misplay. Vegas star Mitch Marner had too much room to operate on two of his goals.

“You don’t want to give up some of the chances we’ve given up, but, overall, I thought he’s been fine,” Brind’Amour said. “You got to ask him to make the saves that he’s got to make and I think he’s done that. A couple bad bounces, they are what they are. He’s been solid for us. Bus came in and was solid for us. That’s got to continue.”

It was Bussi’s first action since April 14 in the Hurricanes’ regular-season finale. Bussi, as he has throughout the postseason, downplayed the decision about who will start in net after Game 3.

“Fred’s the reason why we’re here right now,” Bussi said Saturday night. “If they tell me I’m going, great. If not, I’ll be ready.”

Bussi stopped Marner on a penalty shot, and it seemed to provide a spark to the Hurricanes, who rallied from a 4-0 deficit to force overtime.

“My job is just to put my head down and stop the puck,” Bussi said.

The Hurricanes faced a similar situation in 2006 when Brind’Amour was team captain.

In Game 3 of the 2006 Eastern Conference Final, the Hurricanes pulled starting goalie Cam Ward after he allowed four goals in one period. With backup Martin Gerber in net, the Hurricanes rallied but fell a goal short. 

In Game 4, Gerber started and didn’t allow a goal in a 4-0 victory. 

Gerber started Game 5, too, but allowed three early goals before Ward replaced him and, eventually, helped the Canes to a seven-game victory over Buffalo in the series. Carolina went on to win the Stanley Cup with Ward playing all seven games in the final.

Brind’Amour said he didn’t have a report on forward William Carrier, who left the game in the second period with an apparent elbow injury.

“I’m hopeful he’ll be fine,” Brind’Amour said.