The Carolina Hurricanes are poised to continue their strong momentum as they prepare to face the Washington Capitals, with rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi earning his second consecutive start. Bussi has been nothing short of remarkable, achieving a rare feat as just the fifth goalie in NHL history to secure nine wins in his first ten starts. In his last outing, he showcased his skills by stopping 23 of 24 shots in a decisive victory over Columbus.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour expressed confidence in Bussi’s performance, highlighting his consistency in goal. “He’s just been solid. Look around, the teams that are getting solid play in that position are doing pretty well,” Brind’Amour stated during the morning skate. He acknowledged that while they did not initially foresee Bussi as a regular starter, the young netminder has certainly earned his place through his impressive play.
In terms of the team’s lineup, Will Carrier did not participate in the morning skate but is expected to be available for the game. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who previously missed a game due to a lower-body injury, was seen skating along with Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal, potentially returning to the ice at key moments.
The projected lineup for the contest has some notable configurations. The forwards are organized as follows:
– Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, and Seth Jarvis
– Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, and Blake
– Carrier/Kotkaniemi, Jordan Staal, and Jordan Martinook
– Kieffer Bellows, Mark Jankowski, and Robinson
On defense, the pairings will feature:
– Miller and Walker
– Shayne Gostisbehere and Chatfield
– Nikishin and Nystrom
Bussi is set to guard the net once more, a decision that speaks to the trust the coaching staff has in him despite the presence of seasoned goalies Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov.
The Hurricanes will also have to navigate through some injury concerns. Charles Alexis Legault is expected to be sidelined for three to four months due to a hand injury. Meanwhile, Jaccob Slavin is practicing and appears to be nearing a return to action.
The power play units will include Aho, Jarvis, Staal (also with Blake), and Svechnikov rotating with Gostisbehere on the first unit. The second unit will feature Ehlers, Hall, and Stankoven along with Nikishin and Walker.
As the Hurricanes gear up for the clash against the Capitals, all eyes will be on Brandon Bussi to see if he can continue his remarkable early season run and help his team build further on their success.
