Goaltender debate returns as Hurricanes set for Game 4: Andersen or Bussi?

The loudest question hanging over the Carolina Hurricanes heading into Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final is also the most basic one for a hockey team trying to win a championship: who starts in goal. As the series returns to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Hurricanes remain undecided between Frederik Andersen and Brandon Bussi, a choice framed by what happened in Game 3 and what it means for the next 48 hours of preparation. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9 at 8 p.m. ET at T-Mobile Arena, with Vegas leading the best-of-seven series 2-1.

In Game 3, the Hurricanes trailed most of the way before their rally came up just short in double overtime. Andersen played the first two periods, and the breakdown was immediate and ugly. According to, Andersen allowed four goals on 16 shots through two periods, and two additional goals were ruled out after video review: one due to offside and another because of goalie interference. After the damage in the early stretches, Carolina turned to Bussi to start the third period, and the story of the game pivoted again.

Bussi’s brief opportunity came with pressure, and he responded with a performance that gave Carolina a fighting chance to steal the win. reported that Bussi made 18 saves on 19 shots, including stopping Mitch Marner on a penalty shot. Yet the ending still belonged to Vegas, because the late heroics were not enough. Shea Theodore’s double-overtime winner came after a shot off the end boards that bounced into the net via a skate deflection involving Bussi, sealing a 5-4 Golden Knights win.

That sequence explains why the decision for Game 4 is more than a routine goalie flip. Andersen had been Carolina’s postseason constant before the Game 3 switch, playing every minute of every game this postseason until he was replaced in Saturday’s loss. But also pointed out that Andersen’s Cup Final numbers have invited scrutiny, noting a 4.44 goals-against average and an.815 save percentage in the Final. Meanwhile, Bussi’s Game 3 relief work produced tangible evidence that he can handle the moment at this level, even if it came in a shortened sample size.

Carolina coach Rod Brind’Amour acknowledged the decision is not a one-day reaction. reported that he said he “doesn’t anticipate any changes” and that he would discuss the lineup after Monday practice, adding that he has not made a decision yet and will see how Andersen is feeling. In practical terms, that means the Hurricanes will likely treat Monday’s practice as more than a formality. The goal is not simply to choose a name, but to reset the standard for how Carolina wants to play defense around its goaltender early in the game and how quickly it is willing to react if the opening period again tilts toward Vegas.

The broader stakes are straightforward. With Vegas holding a 2-1 lead, the Hurricanes cannot afford another net-usage mistake, because one more loss turns the Final into a much smaller path to the championship. Conversely, if Carolina picks the right starter and gets a cleaner start than it did in Game 3, it can pull within a single game of tying the series and changing the psychological rhythm of a matchup that has already produced rare swings. The next start will also define the narrative for both goaltenders: Andersen’s ability to rebound after being pulled, and Bussi’s readiness to become the answer that Carolina commits to for the long stretch.