By: Kenny Kaminsky | Follow me on Twitter/X @KennyKaminsky
Goalies are the backbone of any good hockey team. In the American Hockey League, teams typically need two talented netminders to make a run at the Calder Cup. This season was expected to be a significant year for Boston Bruins prospect Brandon Bussi. However, his year has taken a complete turn. Initially, he had a good chance of starting in the National Hockey League, but now he finds himself among the lowest statistical performers among AHL goalies. Providence fans are showing concern for their former all-star goaltender.
To kick off his preseason with the Boston Bruins, Bussi was assigned to start the first game against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. He played only half of the game but conceded two goals, both of which were on his glove side. This performance would trigger confidence issues for the Western Michigan University alum. Another noticeable problem was his rebound control; several times during the game, he inadvertently kicked the puck into high-scoring areas. Fortunately, the Rangers were unable to take advantage of these opportunities.
The rest of the preseason was a lot of the same: the defense in front of him struggled, and he seemed hesitant. Once Jeremy Swayman signed with the Bruins, the team would send down Bussi to the AHL. The plan was for Brandon and his tandem partner, Michael DiPietro, to split time. DiPietro has taken most of the starts because of Bussi’s poor play.
The P-Bruins’ first game of the season was brutal in every respect. The Baby B’s quickly took a two-goal lead but surrendered five straight goals. While giving up five goals is typically problematic for a goalie, it didn’t appear that way this night, considering the relentless offense from the Rocket, who fired 39 shots on net. He received little support and made several outstanding saves. Most fans saw it as a wash since it was the season opener, and he faced intense pressure throughout the game. Unfortunately, this performance foreshadowed what was to come.
Bussi faced a similar challenge in the second game, allowing four goals on 24 shots. The T-Birds generated quality scoring opportunities, which made it challenging for him to make saves. Despite the outcome, he did manage to make several outstanding stops, and fans were understanding, as this was only his second start of the season. However, the Bruins struggled with turnovers during this game, committing some particularly egregious mistakes that made it extremely difficult for Brandon.
The next time the UWM alum would start was against the back-to-back champion Hershey Bears. It was a tall task for the 0-2 goaltender, but he can beat the Bears. Despite the excellent start, the Providence Bruins only mustered one goal that night against the reigning AHL Goalie of the Year winner Hunter Shepherd. Bussi turned away 23 of 25 shots. He looked phenomenal, making the same outstanding saves while looking extremely confident. It looked like he wasn’t dwelling on mistakes and was playing free of expectations. So once again, Bruins fans were hopeful that that play style would continue. He would win most games if he performed the same against other teams.
In the recent game against Laval, everyone involved had challenges, as Bussi allowed five goals on 21 shots. Several of those goals were not entirely his fault. The Rocket has proven to be a formidable opponent for the P-Bruins in all three of their matchups, primarily due to the skill of their defensemen. Fans are eager to see improvement. While Bussi made some impressive saves, he also conceded some soft goals. Given Michael DiPietro’s strong start, concerns about Brandon Bussi’s performance are growing.
I will never speak poorly of a goalie; they have one of the most thankless jobs in sports. Am I concerned about Brandon Bussi’s recent performance? A little, but I know how incredible he can be when he’s playing at his best. His confidence appears to be lacking after the preseason, but I believe he will return to form once he secures his first win. Although it’s easier said than done, the team in front of him also needs to perform better. They looked much improved compared to their performance in the season opener, but the Providence team must step up when Bussi is at the goal.
Brandon Bussi will aim for his first win of the season when the Providence Bruins face off against the Bridgeport Islanders and the Hartford Wolf Pack this weekend. Currently, Brandon ranks among the bottom ten goalies in the American Hockey League, with a career-low Goals Against Average of 4.11 and a Save Percentage of .850. However, these statistics do not indicate his true abilities, as Bussi is too talented a goalie to continue performing at this level.
I look forward to seeing the Sound Beach, New York native secure his first win, hopefully this weekend.
Leave a Reply