Carolina Hurricanes rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi etched his name in the NHL record books on Thursday night, leading his team to a thrilling 3-2 shootout victory over the Washington Capitals. With this win, Bussi became the first goaltender in league history to secure 10 victories in his first 11 career starts.
In a highly competitive matchup reflecting the strength of the Eastern Conference, Bussi showcased his skill by making 23 saves through regulation and stopping all three shots during the shootout. The game featured a standout moment from Seth Jarvis, who netted the decisive shootout goal. Logan Stankoven’s timely equalizer late in the third period, which came with just 2:15 remaining, forced the game into overtime after Nic Dowd temporarily put the Capitals ahead.
Bussi’s remarkable journey to this achievement is truly inspiring. Since being claimed off waivers by the Hurricanes on October 5, 2025, he has amassed an impressive record of 10 wins against only one loss, highlighted by an eight-game winning streak. This ties him with Frederik Andersen for the second-longest winning streak by a Hurricanes goaltender, just shy of Cam Ward’s nine-game streak from 2009. Bussi’s current season statistics are also impressive, with a goals-against average of 2.07 and a save percentage of .910. His ability to save 8.29 goals above expected at even strength underscores his importance to the team, which is averaging an impressive 4.09 goals per game.
Reflecting on his achievement, Bussi expressed his gratitude, saying, “It’s awesome. Pretty crazy… But I didn’t really know we were chasing anything today. It can’t be done without the team, obviously. We’re playing really good hockey, and I’m a small part of it, but it’s pretty cool.”
Bussi’s path to the NHL has been anything but conventional. He went undrafted after junior hockey and played for various NAHL and USHL teams before a successful three-year stint at Western Michigan University. Following his college career, he signed with the Boston Bruins in 2022, where he gained experience in the AHL and ECHL before becoming a free agent and briefly joining the Florida Panthers in July 2025. The Hurricanes capitalized on his potential when they claimed him before he had a chance to debut with Florida.
In the game against the Capitals, the Hurricanes dominated early, outshooting their opponents 13-4 in the first period and 29-9 by the end of the second. The Capitals initially struck first, but the Hurricanes’ perseverance, exemplified by Stankoven’s and Ehlers’ goals, turned the tide of the game. A brief scuffle erupted between players Jordan Martinook and Dowd during the contest, adding to the excitement.
With this victory, the Hurricanes improved to a record of 19-9-2, placing them in a tie with the Capitals for the top spot in both the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division. The team will look to build on this success in their upcoming home-and-home series against the Philadelphia Flyers over the weekend, aiming to maintain their momentum as they continue their pursuit of the division title.