RALEIGH — “Another level, definitely.”
Those three words from Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov summed up the performance of goaltender Brandon Bussi, who one-upped the record-breaking start of his career in a 2-1 win Monday over the visiting Sabres.
There was a handful of saves that belong on any postgame highlight reel, but Bussi’s save on Buffalo center Tage Thompson — one of several the Carolina goaltender made on his former youth hockey teammate — with the game tied in the second period immediately belongs in a Hurricanes time capsule.
Carolina stole the puck on the penalty kill and looked to rush up ice shorthanded, but the Sabres forced a turnover to create a 2-on-0. Thompson passed to Jason Zucker next to Bussi’s left and then quickly received the puck back. Thompson dropped to a knee to elevate the puck, but Bussi got back with his glove to rob the two-time 40-goal sniper.
Save so good it had everyone stunned
pic.twitter.com/fENHCTG6gH
— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) January 19, 2026
“It’s the save of the game, for sure, and maybe the year,” Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour said. “It’s tough to see a better save than that.”
It was just the main highlight of a signature performance for the Cinderella goalie who is now 18-3-1 since finally getting his NHL shot.
“I’ll be frank with you: It’ll never feel normal,” Bussi (17 saves) said of his new, unexpected role. “I think this is what you dream about your whole life. And think that’s a good thing for me. … I’m fortunate to be able to do what I do for a living, and being able to hear the crowd cheer us on, cheer me on — it’s very cool. And I don’t think I’m a person that ever takes that for granted.”
The Hurricanes also didn’t take their limited power play opportunities for granted.
Despite several curious calls by the officials throughout the game, Carolina got its second chance on the man advantage two minutes into the third period.
Hurricanes captain Jordan Staal won the faceoff cleanly back to Seth Jarvis, who gave the puck to Sebastian Aho at the left sideboards. Aho then passed to the corner to Svechnikov, who threaded a pass through the hashmarks to Jarvis.
Buffalo goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen (26 saves) stopped the initial one-timer, but Jarvis got the rebound immediately and scored his 22nd goal of the season at 2:10 of the third to put Carolina ahead.
“I think the guy kind of got a stick on me or I didn’t get a great shot, so it kicked right back out to me,” Jarvis said. “And when you’re in that position, there’s no other play really than throw it to the net. And luckily he was kind of down and out a little bit, so I was able to sneak it in there.”
The two teams played to a draw through 40 minutes, with Bussi and Luukkonen both holding their ground in a battle of two of the league’s hottest teams.
The Sabres jumped out to an early lead by scoring on their first shot attempt.
After Aho set up Svechnikov from a one-timer that went wide, Buffalo jumped out for an odd-man rush the other way. Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin called his own number, snapping a shot far side past Bussi for a 1-0 Buffalo lead 93 seconds into the game.
Svechnikov and Aho didn’t misfire 5½ minutes later. After Carolina defenseman Sean Walker created a neutral zone turnover, Aho came up the right wing and fired a pass to the far post for Svechnikov, who tapped the puck past Luukkonen to tie the game at 7:04. It was Svechnikov’s 17th goal of the season and fifth in three games.
“They score on our line, (and) you’re always trying to get it back,” Svechnikov said. “It was nice to score a couple of shifts after.”
And Bussi did the rest.
“He was incredible,” Jarvis said. “He didn’t get tested too much early on, but that’s what’s so great about him. He stays in games and waits for his opportunities, and he made three or four unbelievable saves.”
Notes: Eric Robinson was injured in the first period and did not return. Brind’Amour said he would be reevaluated Tuesday … Shayne Gostisbehere and Noah Philp did not play due to injuries. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Mike Reilly were healthy scratches. … All three Hurricanes’ penalties were called on Svechnikov.
The post Bussi dazzles in Hurricanes’ 2-1 win over Sabres first appeared on The North State Journal.
