For the first time in 20 years, the Carolina Hurricanes are back on top of the hockey world. Brandon Bussi earned his first career playoff shutout, and the Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0 in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final on Sunday night.
Taylor Hall silenced the rowdy Vegas crowd early, burying a breakaway chance past Carter Hart four minutes in. Rasmus Andersson and Noah Hanafin both lost their coverage of a breaking Hall, giving him ample time to get a shot off.
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The rest of the period was a special teams battle, as each side recorded two minor penalties, but Brandon Bussi stood tall with 11 saves in the game to maintain the one-goal lead heading into the second. The Vegas power play struggled to penetrate the middle, as they have throughout the first five games.
On the cusp of a Stanley Cup championship, Carolina dominated play in the second, outshooting Vegas 8-3. The forecheck was a big part of that domination, as Carolina had six takeaways to Vegas’ one.
The Hall, Logan Stankoven, and Jackson Blake line continued its dominance, with Blake ripping a one-timer from the slot to give Carolina a 2-0 lead with six minutes to go.
Carolina reverted to a conservative structure in the third, which stymied the Golden Knights’ offense for the majority of the third. Vegas recorded only three shots through 15 minutes of action in the third.
Head coach John Tortorella pulled Hart with three minutes to go, giving Vegas their first extended zone time of the period. Tomáš Hertl came inches away from making it a one-goal game, but Bussi continued his miraculous performance, making the biggest save of the playoffs.
In his first year with the team, offseason addition Nikolaj Ehlers put the game away with an empty-netter
After years of failing to meet expectations and Conference Final losses, the Carolina Hurricanes have gotten over the hump. Rod Brind’Amour cemented himself as a Carolina legend after leading them to their first Cup in 2006 as a player, and now coaching them to their second championship.
Jordan Staal became the oldest Conn Smythe Trophy winner at age 37, recording 8 goals and 4 assists in 18 games. His 12 points are the fifth-lowest among Conn Smythe winners in NHL history.
The unlikely heroes didn’t end there for Carolina, as Bussi became only the seventh goalie this century to earn a shutout in a Stanley Cup-clinching win. Before this season, Bussi hadn’t played a game in the NHL; now his name is forever engraved in hockey history.
“Never give up, always have fun,” Bussi said on his unique path to becoming a champion.
