The Carolina Hurricanes are set to play the Washington Capitals on Thursday, with Brandon Bussi named as the starting goaltender. Bussi, who has won nine of his first ten NHL starts, will be making consecutive starts for the first time in his career. In Tuesday’s game against Columbus, he made 23 saves out of 24 shots.
Head coach Rod Brind’Amour commented on the decision to start Bussi again: “He’s just been solid. Look around, the teams that are getting solid play in that position are doing pretty well,” Brind’Amour said after the morning skate. “I don’t think we envisioned him going in an every-day rotation or a back-to-back, but he’s earned that.”
Will Carrier did not participate in the morning skate but is expected to be available for tonight’s game. Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who missed Tuesday’s match due to a lower-body injury, joined Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal during practice this morning.
The projected lineup for tonight includes forwards Andrei Svechnikov, Sebastian Aho, Seth Jarvis, Nikolaj Ehlers, Logan Stankoven, Blake Wheeler, Will Carrier or Jesperi Kotkaniemi with Jordan Staal and Jordan Martinook, Taylor Hall with Mark Jankowski and Eric Robinson. On defense are K’Andre Miller with Sean Walker; Shayne Gostisbehere with Jalen Chatfield; Nikita Nikishin with Marcus Nystrom. Bussi is listed as the starting goaltender.
Injury updates include Charles Alexis Legault (hand injury) and Jaccob Slavin (lower-body injury), with Slavin practicing and reportedly close to returning. Mike Reilly is listed as a scratch.
Power play units will feature Aho, Jarvis, Staal (Blake), and Svechnikov with Gostisbehere on PP1; Ehlers, Hall, and Stankoven with Nikishin and Walker on PP2.
The game against Washington is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
