- Brandon Bussi got emotional when Sportsnet surprised him with footage of his parents after his first NHL playoff start
- His mom and dad flew from New York to Las Vegas in a day to watch Game 4 in person
- Read below to watch the video of the emotional moment
Brandon Bussi held it together in net for his first NHL playoff start. The interview afterward was a different story.
Sportsnet’s Kyle Bukauskas pulled up footage of his parents in the stands during the postgame interview, moments after Tuesday’s 5-3 Game 4 win over Vegas.
Bussi got choked up the moment he saw them.
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Asked what his family means to him, he tried to put it into words.
“They’re the reason why I’m able to do what I do right now,” Bussi said. “Their sacrifice means everything, and yeah, they’re the best.”
He had no idea the footage was coming.
“I can’t believe you guys just did that to me on TV,” Bussi said. “It’s special, though. That’ll be a memory I have forever.”
The road here was not short. Bussi went undrafted, spent three years in the Bruins system, and signed with Florida last summer before Carolina claimed him off waivers in October.
There was barely any warning that he would play Tuesday. Brind’Amour kept his starter a secret until warmups, and the goalie’s family had to scramble to reach Las Vegas in time.
His fiancee, Mary Raclawski, and her parents had already flown out for Game 3. Rob and Lisa Bussi rushed in from Sound Beach, New York, once their son’s start became real.
Moments later, he brought up the cross-country dash.
“Flying East Coast to Vegas in one day is a lot,” Bussi said. “Not easy from New York, so it means a lot for everyone to show up and support us.”
Carolina handed him the start after Brind’Amour gave Frederik Andersen a break. Bussi made the most of it, stopping 18 shots, robbing Mark Stone on a short-handed breakaway on the first shot he faced, and helping the Hurricanes even the series at 2-2.
Loose from the final horn, Bussi was caught on the bench right after the win passing along some simple advice:
Game 5 shifts back to Raleigh with the series tied 2-2. Bussi backstopped the win, but he will remember the night for the two people who crossed the country to watch him play.
