Ehlers praises – Nikolaj Ehlers described Brandon Bussi’s breakout in the 2026 Stanley Cup Final as “incredible” after Carolina’s goalie steadied himself in Game 5 at Lenovo Center, making 23 saves in a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. Ehlers also pointed to his own key
Brandon Bussi didn’t just walk into the spotlight for Game 5 of the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. He arrived with the weight of a series moment and no margin for nerves.
On Thursday night at Lenovo Center in Raleigh. North Carolina. Carolina’s goalie steadied the Hurricanes’ crease in a 4-2 win over the Vegas Golden Knights. It was Bussi’s third appearance in the playoffs and his second start in the finals—numbers that don’t capture the pressure of being asked to perform right when the margin gets thin.
Bussi delivered in the most direct way a goalie can: he stopped 23 of 25 shots in the Game 5 victory. His performance earned him a third-star honor, and it also sparked immediate praise from Nikolaj Ehlers.
Ehlers, speaking after the game via Walt Ruff of NHL.com, shared the emotional side of Bussi’s turnaround. “Not having played for two months. and then play two games in the finals. and be as calm as he is and make the saves he has. is incredible. ” Ehlers said. “Of course, that gives a team confidence. That’s exciting for us, and we’re happy for him as well.”.
The Hurricanes’ faith in Bussi wasn’t built on one night alone. He came into the finals after replacing Frederik Andersen in Game 3, a 5-4 overtime loss to Vegas. Then, in Game 4, Bussi started again and allowed three goals on 21 shots faced—yet Carolina still won 5-3. By Game 5. he looked more like the version that can freeze a game in place. and Ehlers made it clear what that calmness meant to the group.
Ehlers also left his own mark earlier in the series, particularly in Game 3. He earned a second star after tallying three points, with all of them coming from assists. First, he assisted on Carolina’s first goal of the contest, set up via Jordan Staal. Then he added another assist on Andrei Svechnikov’s game-winning score in the second frame.
In the third period of that same game, Ehlers recorded his final helper of the night on Svechnikov’s power-play goal. That strike put Carolina up, 4-1.
Taken together, Bussi’s quiet steadiness and Ehlers’ playmaking contributions have Carolina leaning into momentum right where hockey demands it most: when the series tightens and every save—and every assist—feels louder.
Nikolaj Ehlers Brandon Bussi Carolina Hurricanes Vegas Golden Knights Stanley Cup Final 2026 Game 5 Lenovo Center Frederik Andersen Jordan Staal Andrei Svechnikov