RALEIGH, N.C. — The man wearing the giant inflatable yellow bus suit inside Lenovo Center who was constantly shown on the jumbotron during Game 5 was the first clue.
The overwhelming chants as the final horn sounded on a 4-2 win to give the Carolina Hurricanes a 3-2 series lead in the Stanley Cup final were the confirmation.
Goaltender Brandon Bussi is one step away from solidifying his status as a folk hero in these parts.
The Hurricanes radio post-game show featured interviews with jubilant fans at a watch party, most of whom would mention his name within their first 10 seconds on air. At least it sounded like it in the rare occasion an entire sentence was audible over the loud “Bus-si” chants in the background.
Bussi downplayed his role in the hoopla.
“I don’t know if I’m willing the team,” he laughed at the insinuation of a question during a postgame media availability. “We like our game and it’s fun to be a part of.”
His teammates were quick to give him more credit.
“There’s not much more to say,” captain Jordan Staal said. “The guy’s been unbelievable.”
The rookie has been an unlikely hero. A year ago at this time he had not played an NHL game.
Bussi was in a rotation with Frederik Andersen this season and led the team with 39 starts, going 31-6-2 with a 2.47 goals-against average.
His impressive numbers weren’t enough to earn him the first start in the playoffs, however, and Andersen ran with the postseason job by carrying the Hurricanes into the Final with just one loss in the first three rounds.
Bussi entered a game for the first time since April 14 when he replaced Andersen in Game 3 and was in net as the Hurricanes rallied from a 4-0 deficit only to lose 5-4 in double overtime.
He has stopped 59 of the 65 shots he has faced and has a 2.18 GAA in two victories to put the Hurricanes on the brink of winning the Stanley Cup.
“He’s been like this the whole season and even the last few months, where he hasn’t played,” forward Nikolaj Ehlers said. “To be able to come in like Bussi did, not having played for two months, and then play two games in the Finals and be as calm as he is, and make the saves that he has, is incredible.”
Bussi, a 27-year-old Western Michigan alum, is as unassuming on the ice as he is off of it.
It’s one of the traits the Hurricanes point to when discussing what he has brought to the team the last week to help turn around the series.
“Bus had a lot of poise,” coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “He looked pretty calm in there.”
Staal has not been surprised.
“He’s been great all year long and he battles and finds ways to make big saves and gives you a chance,” he said. “He was unbelievable (Thursday in) a big game for us.”
Most of the time, he’s done that by remaining fundamentally solid even if that’s not the way he imagined it as a youth.
“Sliding cross-crease, two-pad stack, glove windmill,” he said of what his vision of playing in the Stanley Cup Final were when he was practicing in his childhood driveway on Long Island. “All the extra stuff that you probably won’t see me do.”
He’s just fine keeping it simple as long as they win.
The fans won’t be complaining either.
“It’s cool,” he said of the chants. “The energy they give us, the support they give us as a team is special. It’s fun to play here. The fan base has been amazing.”
It will get even crazier if he can lead them to one more win.
Imagine all the inflatable bus suits at the parade.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
