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Carolina Hurricanes News

Bussi is in the starter's crease at Carolina's morning skate.

With only five games remaining in the regular season, it's unclear who Carolina will turn to in the playoffs, as they continue their goalie rotation on Tuesday with Bussi tending the twine. The 27-year-old Bussi had a rough stretch exiting the Olympic break, but he has played better in recent outings. He has won four straight, allowing three or fewer goals in each game while posting a 2.50 GAA and .884 SV%. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -179 home favourites against a Boston Bruins team that has scored only three goals in its last three games (0-2-1).

Brandon Bussi
Bussi led the Hurricanes onto the ice for warmups.

Bussi allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Hurricanes' win in Columbus on Tuesday. Bussi and Frederik Andersen have been in a pretty strict rotation as of late, so it's Bussi's turn on Saturday, where he'll face the Islanders on home ice. After a tough stretch of games, Bussi has settled back in as of late, winning three in a row with a 2.33 GAA and .900 SV%. He should be a strong fantasy option on Saturday vs. The Islanders, who are on the second half of a back-to-back and the Hurricanes are massive -253 favourites, the largest on the slate.

Brandon Bussi
Bussi is in the starter's crease at Carolina's morning skate.

Bussi allowed two goals on 25 shots in the Hurricanes' win in Columbus on Tuesday. Bussi and Frederik Andersen have been in a pretty strict rotation as of late, so it's Bussi's turn on Saturday, where he'll face the Islanders on home ice. After a tough stretch of games, Bussi has settled back in as of late, winning three in a row with a 2.33 GAA and .900 SV%. He should be a strong fantasy option on Saturday vs. The Islanders, who are on the second half of a back-to-back and the Hurricanes are massive -253 favourites, the largest on the slate.

Brandon Bussi
Bussi will start in Columbus on Tuesday.

After starting his career with a record-breaking 25 wins in his first 29 games, Bussi's play has declined immensely in recent weeks. That said, he has followed up the first three-game losing streak of his career (0-3-0) by posting a 2.49 GAA and .889 SV% in his next two games (2-0-0), hopefully the sign of an upward trend for the 27-year-old goalie. The Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -129 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team that scored five goals on 30 shots (.833 SV%) on Bussi in a 5-1 win two weeks ago.

Brandon Bussi
Gostisbehere (lower-body) is practicing in a regular jersey on Friday.

Gostisbehere has battled a myriad of injuries this season, with his latest ailment keeping him out of the lineup for the past three weeks. The 32-year-old Gostisbehere ranks among the most productive defensemen this season when healthy, with 43 points (11G / 32A) in 45 games. He is scoring at a 0.96 point-per-game pace, a rate that is only being bettered by six other defenseman. Gostisbehere returned to practice on Friday and looks like he could be an option on Saturday against the New Jersey Devils.

Shayne Gostisbehere
Bussi will start in Toronto on Friday.

Not to take away from a tremendous rookie season for the 27-year-old Bussi, but he has fallen off from an excellent start to his NHL career. After posting a 2.16 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games before the Olympic break (23-3-1), Bussi has returned with an abysmal 4.05 GAA and .835 SV% in his last five games (2-3-0). That said, the Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as significant -218 road favourites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has scored two or fewer goals in five of their last seven games (2-4-1).

Brandon Bussi
Bussi was the first goalie off the ice at Carolina's morning skate.

Not to take away from a tremendous rookie season for the 27-year-old Bussi, but he has fallen off from a tremendous start to his NHL career. After posting a 2.16 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games before the Olympic break (23-3-1), Bussi has returned with an abysmal 4.05 GAA and .835 SV% in his last five games (2-3-0). That said, the Hurricanes enter Friday's contest as significant -218 road favourites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team that has scored two or fewer goals in five of their last seven games (2-4-1).

Brandon Bussi
Deslauriers will be a healthy scratch vs. Pittsburgh on Wednesday.

Eric Robinson will draw back into Carolina's lineup on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins, resulting in Deslauriers being a healthy scratch. The 35-year-old Deslauriers made his Hurricanes debut in yesterday's 5-1 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. He had zero points and a fight in 12:31 time-on-ice.

Nicolas Deslauriers
Bussi will start in Columbus on Tuesday.

Not to take away from a tremendous rookie season for the 27-year-old Bussi, but he has fallen off from a tremendous start to his NHL career. After posting a 2.16 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games before the Olympic break (23-3-1), Bussi has returned with an ugly 3.81 GA and .835 SV% in four games since (2-2-0) and is riding a two-game losing streak for the first time in his young career. Still, the Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -131 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team with points in nine straight games (5-0-4).

Brandon Bussi
Svechnikov (undisclosed) will play vs. Columbus on Tuesday after missing practice on Monday.

Svechnikov was absent from practice on Monday, but will be ready for Tuesday's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 25-year-old Svechnikov has seven points (3G / 4A) in his last six games, giving him 58 points (24G / 34A) through 66 games this season.

Andrei Svechnikov
Bussi is expected to start in Columbus on Tuesday.

Not to take away from a tremendous rookie season for the 27-year-old Bussi, but he has fallen off from a tremendous start to his NHL career. After posting a 2.16 GAA and .906 SV% in 27 games before the Olympic break (23-3-1), Bussi has returned with an ugly 3.81 GA and .835 SV% in four games since (2-2-0) and is riding a two-game losing streak for the first time in his young career. Still, the Hurricanes enter Tuesday's contest as -131 road favourites against a Columbus Blue Jackets team with points in nine straight games (5-0-4).

Brandon Bussi