After arriving in Las Vegas to meet the Bruins before Thursday’s overtime loss to Las Vegas, goalie Brandon Bussi didn’t know how long he’d be in the NHL but he was happy to be there.
Bussi was summoned from Providence to join after Linus Ullmark suffered an undisclosed upper-body injury in overtime in the Bruins’ shootout loss to the Coyotes. Ullmark is listed as day-to-day, but Boston called up Bussi to back up Swayman against the Golden Knights.
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“Every time you have an opportunity to be in the NHL it’s super exciting. I’m grateful for the opportunity. They don’t come for everybody,” Bussi said. “I’m ready to help the team in whatever way I can. I’m super excited.”
He got the call shortly after waking up on Wednesday. He skated in Providence in the morning and then got in the car.
“I got a sweat in, then drove up to Boston and caught a flight here,” he said.
It would have required an injury or a significant roster move for Bussi to make the Bruins in the preseason, but he left a good impression on the team and the coaching staff in his one preseason start. Against a Rangers lineup with a handful of NHL players as well a quite a few hopefuls, Bussi made 29 saves in a 3-0 shutout win.
Bruins coach Jim Montgomery was asked what he liked about Bussi.
“Just his compete, his athleticism and his attitude. He carries himself in a real positive and upbeat manner,” he said.
Bussi, 25, is in his third season in the Bruins organization but hasn’t played an NHL game yet. The 6-foot-4 netminder was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Western Michigan. His numbers this year in Providence aren’t as good as they were last year, but are still solid. He’s 10-6-3 with a 2.94 goals-against average and a .901 save percentage. Asked if it was a tougher year this season, he balked.
“I don’t want to say tougher. Just a little adversity. But overall it’s been a super beneficial good year for me. Just personally I had a little stint where I didn’t like how I was playing,” he said. “I’ve played a lot of games this year and I feel like I’ve put a really good effort in, in all of them. Just a small little hiccup. It’s been a good opportunity to learn from that and push through.”
He said the key was keep his routine intact.
“I like to think my mental game is pretty strong. I’m a big process guy. You have to look at the things you’re doing well regardless if you had a shutout that game or five goals against,” he said. “If you’re doing the right things, the results will come in the long run. That’s obviously been huge for me I’m very excited to be here and help out in whatever way I can.”
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