Under coach Rod Brind’Amour, the Hurricanes have been a puck possession juggernaut and reached the Eastern Conference Finals three times during his tenure, but lost to the Boston Bruins in 2019 and the Florida Panthers twice in 2023 and 2025 with a combined record of 1-12 in this round in his first seven seasons with the team. The Hurricanes lacked timely scoring and goaltending in those crucial Conference Finals games, so Bussi could be an X-factor for Carolina in the postseason.
Here are three indicators underlying Bussi’s rapid rise for the Hurricanes:
1. High Risk Backup Percentage
Bussi ranks second in high-danger save percentage (.870) among qualifying goaltenders (at least 15 games played) this season, trailing only Ilya Sorokin of the New York Islanders (.875).
According to NHL EDGE IQ, Bussi has a .700 save percentage against high-probability shots, which ranks sixth in the NHL (minimum 20 games) and is significantly above the NHL average against high-probability shots (0.636). Bussi’s save on Thompson was his 50th of the season against an inferred shot attempt with a PGR above 20.0%; despite limited playing time, only eight goalkeepers make more saves of this type than Bussi (Spencer Knight of the Chicago Blackhawks leads the category with 72).
2. 5-on-5 save percentage in close situations
Bussi ranks fourth in save percentage at 5-on-5 in tight situations (0.941; that is, when the game is tied in the first or second period, or within a goal in the third period) among qualifying goaltenders. The NHL average in close 5-on-5 situations is .911, and Bussi has far surpassed Andersen (.849) in that category.
The Hurricanes, as a team, lead the NHL in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage (59.2) and offensive zone time percentage (45.4) this season. But while Carolina’s offense ranks second in the NHL in projected goals (164.24; sum of projected goals rate multiplied by inferred shot attempts) this season, the Hurricanes have the worst PGR against (6.46 percent), indicating how valuable Bussi’s game-winning saves have been to his team.
3. Quality begins
Bussi’s quality starts percentage (save percentage above .900) is 63.6 this season (14 in 22 starts), ranking just outside the top 10 in that category. In terms of goal assist, Bussi has the fifth-best goal differential among goalkeepers (plus-34) and ranks second in goal differential per 60 minutes (plus-1.52).
