The answer to the most guarded secret in the NHL is out.
Brandon Bussi is starting in the Carolina Hurricanes’ net for Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final against the Vegas Golden Knights. Frederik Andersen isn’t on the ice, according to reporters at T-Mobile Arena. He is listed as a scratch. Pyotr Kochetkov is the backup Hurricanes goalie.
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Andersen didn’t take part in practice on Monday, but coach Rod Brind’Amour said it was a maintenance day.
Brind’Amour didn’t reveal his starter either after Monday’s practice or in Tuesday’s pregame news conference. There was no morning skate on Tuesday.
Andersen got the start throughout the playoffs but was pulled after two periods in Game 3 while trailing 4-0. Bussi came in and stopped 18 of 19 shots, including Mitch Marner’s penalty shot, in the 5-4 double-overtime loss.
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) faceoff during the first period in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
Carolina Hurricanes center Jordan Staal (11) and Vegas Golden Knights center Jack Eichel (9) faceoff during the first period in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
Carolina Hurricanes left wing Nikolaj Ehlers (27) celebrates scoring during the first period against the Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
Overview of the stadium prior to the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights Carolina Hurricanes and Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
General view of towels for fans on the seats prior to the game between the Carolina Hurricanes and the Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Carter Hart (79) stands in the hallway prior to entering the ice for warm up against the Carolina Hurricanes in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(James Guillory, Imagn Images)
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Golden Knights and Hurricanes skate for 2026 Stanley Cup glory
Carolina Hurricanes right wing Seth Jarvis (24) warms up before a game against the Vegas Golden Knights in game one of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final at Lenovo Center in Raleigh on June 2, 2026.
(James Guillory, Imagn Images)
The start is Bussi’s first since mid-April. Game 3 was his first action of the playoffs. He had 31 wins in the regular season.
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Bussi catches right-handed while Andersen catches left.
“We don’t care who’s playing, what hand, what feet, we’re just going to play,” Golden Knights coach John Tortorella told reporters.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hurricanes’ Brandon Bussi starts Game 4; Frederik Andersen out
