Hurricanes Remain Coy on Game 5 Starter as Brandon Bussi Appears Likely

The Carolina Hurricanes are maintaining secrecy around their goaltending choice for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final, with head coach Rod Brind'Amour declining to officially name a starter while noting that "everybody's available." Brandon Bussi, who made his first postseason start in Game 4 in Vegas, stopped 18 of 21 shots in a Hurricanes victory that evened the series at 2-2. Practice observations suggest Bussi will start again, as he occupied the net typically reserved for the team's starter during the main skate. Frederik Andersen, who had started all postseason games prior to Game 3, skated separately before the main group. The decision reflects the team's strategic approach to goaltending in a series where both offenses have been highly productive, making the goalie's role primarily one of damage minimization rather than stealing games.