Carolina Hurricanes goaltender Brandon Bussi won his first career NHL playoff start on Tuesday night. This happened in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final. 

The 27-year-old player is undrafted, spent four seasons in the minor leagues, and made 18 saves on 21 shots as Carolina defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 5-3 to level the series at 2-2. 

In four AHL seasons before this, Bussi made around 111 appearances and had a 63-31-13 record. He had never played a regular-season NHL game before this season.

Hurricanes also went to appreciate its player by acknowledging these achievements online,

Bussi became the first goaltender since 1961 to win his playoff debut in the Stanley Cup Final. 

He ended up signing with the Florida Panthers last summer before being placed on waivers in training camp. Carolina then claimed him on October 5.

After Pyotr Kochetkov's lower-body injury stopped him after nine games, Bussi covered for him and went 31-6-2. He became the first goaltender in NHL history to win 10 of his first 11 games and the fastest to reach 20 career wins, doing so in just 24 games. 

The Hurricanes had already seen this kind of potential in the player. They signed Bussi to a three-year, $5.7 million extension through the 2028-29 season before he could reach free agency. 

Fans Celebrate Bussi's Unlikely Rise

This achievement was celebrated widely on social media, and fans have appreciated and given their takes.

"A hockey story for the ages👏"

Many were also simply shocked by how far Bussi had come in such a short time.

"WE LOVE BRANDON BUSSI"

The Carolina supporters were pretty loud in their appreciation: "The Bus is the best!"

A supporter from a rival team set aside their differences to appreciate the player entirely.

"This Bruins fan is rooting for Bussi and grateful he got this chance to shine!" Bussi spent four years in the Boston organization before being let go.

A Carolina fan had supported the moment in the broader context.

"Bussi is about to help us get that cup. Hopefully, we waited 20 years to get back into this spot. We need that cup, no scratch it, we will earn that cup."

It is noticeable that the fans understand the pressure Bussi now faces and that winning one game in the final is one thing, but holding up those expectations for the rest of the series and the future is bigger.

His journey from being the AHL waiver wire to a Stanley Cup Final winner is already one of the most inspiring stories this 2026 season.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Aadhya Nalla

Edited by

Ankita Yadav