Just livin’ the dream.
And he has no clue who’s starting in goal for the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final, either.
“You know Roddy’s our coach, right? That’s all I can say,” Bussi smiled Monday inside T-Mobile Arena. “Let’s see if you guys have better luck.”
A well-rested Bussi was stellar in relief of No. 1 Frederik Andersen Saturday, backstopping his club to a character comeback that fell one fluke goal shy of an all-time, double-overtime stunner.
Since getting pulled in the loss and having his head knocked by an Ivan Barbashev flyby, Andersen stayed off the ice Sunday and Monday.
Rod Brind’Amour assured that Andersen’s head is fine and that his skipping an otherwise fully attended practice was simply maintenance for a goalie who has started all 17 games in these playoffs.
The coach knows who’s starting Tuesday. He’s just not telling anyone.
“I’ll keep it quiet. It’s the only suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold onto. It seems to have taken on a life of its own, so I kind of enjoy it,” smiled Brind’Amour, who credits Bussi’s patience and preparation.
“He’s grateful for the moment, you know? Every day, he’s just happy to be here, grateful for any opportunity that he can get. And to be honest, pretty much every time we give him any type of opportunity, he seizes the moment.
“He came in, clearly was solid.”
Taylor Hall downplays the suspense.
Four goaltenders started games for the Canes this season, and none of them hit 40 starts.
“We shuffled goalies so much all season long that it was kind of like show up to the game and you kinda forget who’s really starting, right?” said Hall. He considers Bussi’s wild journeyman ride, from going undrafted to getting waived by Florida, to making an emergency Cup Final debut.
“The season for him overall was probably a lot to take in, becoming a full-fledged NHLer, and then playing a ton of games in a row. So, hopefully he’s gotten some rest, and he’s fresh mentally. He looked like it the last game.”
Which is why we believe Bussi should start.
It’s a fresh look to throw at the enemy. A right-catching goaltender who takes away shooters’ targets with his long torso and arms.
“He doesn’t have to really travel a lot, but he makes desperation saves really well. He never gives up on plays, and he’s more vocal out there, more talkative,” Hall says of the righty who fooled Mitch Marner on a penalty shot.
“It’s different. I shot on him today, and it’s like: OK, I gotta try and go high glove on him, where I wouldn’t try that as much on a normal goalie. It does throw you off a bit.”
Bussi plays a more aggressive style than Andersen, who likes to stand deeper in the crease. That’s helpful for plays like Barbashev’s Game 2 wraparound, backdoor looks, and possibly the Theodore bank shot.
“Tough last goal,” laments Bussi, who assures he has turned the page and is ready if called upon. “Some wild things have happened, so nothing really surprises me anymore.”
Well, one thing will remain a surprise: Which Hurricanes goalie leads the group out for warmups in what feels very much like a must-win Game 4 on the road.
“I kind of chuckle about the goalie thing. Because as a player, wherever they throw in, I’m not worrying about who’s in net,” says Brind’Amour, in gamesmanship mode.
“I’m gonna try to do my job, and somebody in there going is good. It’s really not that big a deal, so it doesn’t affect how we play.”
But it darn well could affect the outcome of this series.
Hurricanes practice lines on Monday ahead of Game 4:
Svechnikov – Aho – Martinook
Hall – Stankoven – Blake
Ehlers – Staal – Jarvis
Carrier – Jankowski – Robinson
Slavin – Chatfield
Miller – Walker
Gostisbehere – Nikishin