Bussi’s Relief Spark Isn’t Enough as Hurricanes’ Comeback Falls Short in Game 3

The Carolina Hurricanes’ Stanley Cup Final comeback attempt came up one goal short in Game 3 at T-Mobile Arena, and the moment that changed the game’s temperature included a familiar name. Brandon Bussi, a former Florida Panthers goaltender, came on to replace Frederik Andersen to start the third period, helping Carolina lift a four-goal deficit into a tie. In the end, Vegas still won 5-4 in double overtime, when Shea Theodore’s shot found a path off Bussi’s skate for the decisive goal at 5:38 of the second extra session. With the loss, the series stands with Vegas leading 2-1, and the next chance to swing the momentum comes in Game 4 on Tuesday, June 9 in Las Vegas.

Bussi’s appearance marked a major milestone for Carolina. According to the NHL’s recap, he made his Stanley Cup playoff debut when Andersen was replaced to start the third, and Bussi’s first postseason extended into extra time. Carolina’s coaching move did not erase the early damage, but it created a different kind of life for the Hurricanes: the Golden Knights had surged to a 4-0 lead at one point, and the third period then belonged to Carolina’s pace and Bussi’s ability to keep the deficit from widening further. Overall, the game’s scoring and timing left Carolina fighting uphill, then sprinting downhill, and Bussi was in the crease for the pivotal sequence.

The Hurricanes’ push came in quick, unforgiving bursts. reported that Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall, and Jordan Staal scored on three consecutive shots, with the goals arriving 39 seconds apart to make it 4-3 with 12:18 remaining. Andrei Svechnikov then tied the game on the power play with Bussi pulled for the extra skater in the closing stretch of regulation. Carolina’s comeback effort was historic in its own way. noted it was the second time in Stanley Cup Final history that a team erased a four-goal deficit in a single game, but it still wasn’t enough to change the final result.

Bussi’s impact also carried into the immediate overtime swing points. The NHL recap credited Bussi with stopping Mitch Marner on a late third-period penalty shot opportunity, and it positioned Carolina to reach overtime despite the collapse. In double overtime, Theodore’s eventual winner landed after a carom, the kind of break that often decides tight playoff games. For Carolina, the lesson is twofold: the comeback proved the Hurricanes can mount a late rally, and the loss proved late rallies do not automatically guarantee a finish.

The bigger question now is how Carolina uses Bussi going forward, and the answer is not fully settled in public. After Game 3, Bussi told reporters he would be ready again if he receives another call, but that the decision is up to the team. described him as the hard-luck losing goalie in relief of Andersen, and noted that he said it is not his role to determine the next start.

Carolina’s decision-making has a clear context. Bussi entered the playoffs as the “other” goalie, with Andersen playing every minute through earlier rounds, and reported that Carolina had claimed Bussi off waivers from the Florida Panthers on Oct. 5. During this Cup run, the Hurricanes’ confidence in their depth has been tested by circumstances and by timing. That depth is now on display in the Stanley Cup Final, and Game 4 carries the natural consequence: if Carolina believes this relief formula can keep the game close enough to flip, it will look for another jolt from its backup. If Vegas believes the late-game response is the real story, it will aim to prevent the next Carolina surge before it begins.