Brandon Bussi Pro Reads 4
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Brandon Bussi is a Stanley Cup Champion but that path to hockey immortality started — at least in the NHL — with his first win in his first start against the San Jose Sharks way back on Oct. 14, which included this stellar backdoor save on a second period power play.
The 27-year-old would go on to have a fantastic first NHL season after going from the Florida Panthers to the Hurricanes as a pre-season waiver claim, setting multiple NHL records before signing a three-year contract extension and winning the Cup. He is a passionate student of the game and the perfect Pro Reads guest, so InGoal was thrilled to sit down with him in early March for a video breakdown session of four saves from his remarkable season.
THE SEQUENCE
Much like his first Pro Reads entry against the Utah Mammoth, Bussi is facing a rush-style attack against the Sharks power play, with plenty of east-west passing options:
Looking at the freeze frame above, as the puck is passed from Will Smith above the left face-off circle to Tyler Toffoli skating downhill into the right face-off dot, what is your read on the primary threat? What is your positional priority at this point?
Are you coming across and squaring up to Toffoli?
If so, why? If not, then why not?
What do you make of Bussi’s depth throughout this power play passing sequence?
THE SAVE
Now watch the save (and replays) with those same questions in mind:
What did you make of the way Bussi came across his crease on the first pass?
It may be easier in hindsight, but can you see why he never fully squares up to Toffoli?
What factors would have gone into that decision?
Is there anything you might have done differently?
Lastly, what did you make of the way he came across, using paddle down?
THE PRO READ
Now let’s hear how Bussi saw and managed this double slot-line pass, a play type that ends up in the net more than 53 percent of the time, according to Clear Sight Analytics.
Still ahead in this article:
Bussi names exactly what he said to himself as the puck left Smith's stick — and the specific habit he relies on during Cup Final situations against teams that try to break him down laterally — in the breakdown below.
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