NHL Player News

Hart allowed four goals on 24 shots in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Hart has allowed four goals in each game in this series, and the Golden Knights' offense looks to be wilting under the pressure of having to out-score his mistakes. The 27-year-old took consecutive losses for the first time since the first round with Thursday's loss. He's down to 14-7 this postseason while adding a 2.59 GAA and a .907 save percentage in 21 appearances. Head coach John Tortorella showed no regret in sticking with Hart on Thursday, per Cory Lavalette of the North State Journal, calling an inquiry about a potential switch to Adin Hill a stupid question. That suggests Vegas is likely to ride with Hart in Game 6 on Sunday, pending a potential change in strategy in the next few days. Vegas is one of two teams to have won at least one round while also utilizing just one goalie this postseason.

Bussi stopped 23 of 25 shots in Thursday's 4-2 win over the Golden Knights in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Getting the start for the second game in a row, Bussi again delivered a winning performance. He's allowed six goals on 65 shots over his three appearances since taking over in relief of Frederik Andersen in Game 3. At this point, the crease looks to belong to Bussi, who will have two chances to get the last win necessary for the Hurricanes to claim their second championship. Game 6 is set for Sunday in Vegas.

Bussi is expected to start at home against Vegas for Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday, per Chip Alexander of The Raleigh News & Observer.

Bussi stopped 18 of 19 shots in 45:26 of ice time en route to a 5-4 double-overtime loss to Vegas in Game 3 on Saturday. He served in relief of Frederik Andersen in that game, but Bussi got the start for Game 4 and posted a 5-3 victory by stopping 18 of 21 shots. The 27-year-old had a 31-6-2 record, 2.47 GAA and .894 save percentage in 39 regular-season appearances in 2025-26. Vegas has averaged 3.70 goals per game in the 2026 playoffs.

Hart will protect the road goal versus the Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals on Thursday.

Hart has allowed four goals in each game of the series so far, posting an .861 save percentage overall. Despite the poor showing, he's managed to snag a couple of wins. Hart will need to improve between the pipes or get a lot of goal support in this pivotal Game 5 matchup.

Hart stopped 23 of 27 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals. The fifth goal was an empty-netter.

Hart was blitzed for three goals on 14 shots in the first period. The Golden Knights wiped out that deficit in the second, but Jordan Staal's second goal of the game at 6:32 of the third was the difference. Nothing has come easy for Hart in this series -- he's allowed four goals in each game, a total of 16 goals against on 115 shots, which has put extra pressure on the Vegas offense. There's been no indication that a change is coming in the crease, so Hart will likely get the chance to bounce back in a pivotal Game 5 in Carolina on Thursday.

Bussi stopped 18 of 21 shots in Tuesday's 5-3 win over the Golden Knights in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Bussi got the start and delivered a decent performance to pick up the win while Frederik Andersen got some rest. It's too early to say if the Hurricanes have a goaltending controversy brewing, but Bussi has played well so far, allowing four goals on 40 shots over his two appearances in the postseason. The 27-year-old showed Tuesday he can perform when called upon, and it'd likely be a little easier for him if he happens to get the nod in Game 5 on home ice Thursday.

Hart will patrol the home crease against Carolina in Game 4 on Tuesday, Danny Webster of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

Hart made 29 saves in Saturday's 5-4 double-overtime win over the Hurricanes in Game 3. He has a 14-5 record this postseason with a 2.44 GAA and a .913 save percentage. However, he has allowed four goals in each of his first three outings against Carolina during the Stanley Cup Finals.

Bussi will guard the road goal versus the Golden Knights on Tuesday in Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals, Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports reports.

Bussi made a relief appearance in Game 3, stopping 18 of 19 shots. Frederik Andersen had operated as the Hurricanes' starter this postseason, but Bussi will now get the chance to turn the series around, which Vegas leads 2-1 heading into Tuesday. Bussi had a 31-6-2 record with a 2.47 GAA and an .894 save percentage in 39 regular-season outings.

Black signed a two-year, two-way contract with Panthers on Monday.

After a strong campaign with AHL Charlotte, Black secured his second contract with Florida. In 42 AHL appearances this season, the 24-year-old netminder posted a 25-13-4 record, a 2.47 GAA and a .903 save percentage. Even though he hasn't made his NHL debut yet, the Panthers' crease was inconsistent last season between Sergei Bobrovsky and Daniil Tarasov, leaving the door open for Black to potentially see playing time in the NHL at some point during his new deal.

Bussi stopped 18 of 19 shots in relief of Frederik Andersen in Saturday's 5-4 double-overtime loss to the Golden Knights in Game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Bussi's work allowed the Hurricanes to erase a four-goal deficit in the third period. That would up being all for naught -- a Shea Theodore shot off the back boards bounced around and evaded Bussi at 5:38 of the second overtime for the deciding goal. Still, it was a positive showing for a goalie who hadn't played since April 14 versus the Islanders. Andersen has been the Hurricanes' starter throughout the playoffs, but he's struggled against Vegas, so there's a possibility head coach Rod Brind'Amour turns to Bussi in Tuesday's Game 4.