Carolina Hurricanes Frederik Andersen was given a maintenance day Monday, which didn’t quiet the noise that there could be a goalie change ahead of Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final on Tuesday.
Andersen did not skate in Carolina’s first practice since he was pulled prior to the third period of Game 3 in the Hurricanes’ 5-4 double overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Brandon Bussi made 18 saves on 19 shots and was the goalie for Carolina’s thrilling four-goal comeback in the third period that forced overtime.
Coach Rod Brind’Amour said a decision has been made, but it won’t be known until Tuesday.
“I think we’ll keep it quiet. That’s the only suspenseful thing around here that I have to hold on to. It seems to have taken the life of his own, so I kind of enjoy it,” Brind’Amour said. “But yes, it was a maintenance day for him.”
Andersen saw 16 shots in 40 minutes but gave up four goals in the second period — three to former Toronto teammate Mitch Marner for the fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history.
Bussi made key saves to keep Carolina in it, including a penalty shot early in the third that ruined Marner’s bid for a fourth goal.
“There’s another guy that I think he’s just grateful for the moment,” Brind’Amour said of Bussi. “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’ve given him any type of opportunity, he seizes the moment. That’s what he did the other night too. He came in clearly was solid.”
Carrier practices
Hurricanes forward William Carrier practiced Monday after missing most of Game 3 with an upper-body injury.
The Original Misfit played just 6:51 before leaving in the second period after delivering a check to defenseman Jeremy Lauzon. He played four shifts in the second period.
Brind’Amour didn’t provide a full update, but Carrier skated on his own with no limitations. Carrier has four assists in 16 games in the playoffs.
Importance of Game 4
If the Knights find a way to win Tuesday and take a 3-1 series lead back to Raleigh, North Carolina, history would be on their side: Teams that go up 3-1 in a best-of-seven Cup Final are 38-1 all-time, including 10-1 when starting on the road.
The only team to ever rally from 3-1 down and win the Stanley Cup is the 1942 Toronto Maple Leafs.
Teams that trail 2-1 in the Stanley Cup Final are 27-30 all-time in Game 4, including a 9-8 record on the road.
Contact Danny Webster at dwebster@reviewjournal.com. Follow @DannyWebster21 on X.
