Brandon Bussi comes up big in third to close out easy night vs Flyers
Bruins goaltender Brandon Bussi discussed his latest effort in a 4-1 preseason win over the Philadelphia Flyers.
BOSTON — Brandon Bussi didn’t have a tough night, on paper. But the Bruins goaltender got some valuable experience, including a pair of big saves, in the team’s 4-1 preseason win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday night at TD Garden.
Bussi stopped 13-of-14 shots (.929) on the night. Hardly a sweat-breaker by NHL standards. But he made five of his 13 saves in the third period, and made two key stops to preserve what was a tie game, then a 2-1 lead at the time.
One of them came on a rush by former Bruin Anthony Richard. Defenseman Andrew Peeke disrupted his net-front opportunity, as Bussi tracked him across the crease, then gave him nothing to shoot at from the goal line.
The other big save came against the Flyers’ Sean Couturier, all alone in the slot, keeping the B’s in front.
The close-out effort has a chance to be a confidence-builder for Bussi, who is on track to start the 2024-25 regular season as the Bruins’ backup goaltender behind Joonas Korpisalo. Even if Jeremy Swayman breaks bread with Bruins brass at the eleventh hour, he’ll need a ramp-up period before he actually plays. The B’s are probably going to need Bussi in the early-going, no matter what, so it was nice for him to get a chance to protect a lead and close out a victory.
“The more game action you see, the better you are going into a season,” Bussi said after the game. “Getting put in those experiences is really good for me and our club. It just felt really good to come out with a win.”
Perhaps more importantly for Bussi is that he impressed head coach Jim Montgomery, who recently officially named Korpisalo the starting goaltender for opening night.
“That was a good lineup that we played, they have a lot of good offensive weapons, and I thought [Bussi] read the plays well,” Montgomery said. “I thought he was aggressive, he was moving well. There was a flurry in the first where they missed the net, but he was there if it hit the net, and he was ready and he was reading it. And he made the save on Richard – it was important at the moment in the game.”
MORE: The Bruins have already announced their Opening Night starter
The Bruins will be off Wednesday, before heading up to Quebec City for a preseason game against the Los Angeles Kings. They will then close out their preseason on Sunday, Oct. 5 against the Washington Capitals. It’s possible Bussi gets one more look in goal before the regular season starts.
Matt Dolloff is a writer and digital content producer for 98.5 The Sports Hub. Read all of his articles here.
Bruins slice camp roster in half with massive round of cuts
- Up front, the Bruins decided to send 2021 first-round pick Fabian Lysell down to Providence. The talk of the offseason, especially when it came to a vacant ‘RW2’ spot that was intentionally left unaddressed by the club, Lysell started slow this preseason, but appeared to pick things up with a goal and a penalty drawn in his second outing. Lysell also got the call in Saturday’s overtime loss in Philadelphia, and appeared to show some definite progress when it came to his on-ice vision and adapting to pro tendencies. But it was not enough for Lysell to warrant a longer look this preseason, even with another three games left on the warm-up slate, with Lysell sent to the AHL once again. In three games this preseason, the 21-year-old Lysell recorded one goal and four shots on goal. Lysell was also tied for the third-most individual scoring chances for (all strengths, with five, according to NaturalStatTrick. One definite complaint you can have about Lysell this preseason is that the Black and Gold didn’t really seem to get him involved with NHL-level talent beyond the opening days, with Lysell’s final preseason appearance coming on what was a third-line look with Johnny Beecher and Patrick Brown.
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins right wing Fabian Lysell (23) blocks a pass during the third period against the New York Rangers at TD Garden. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 04: Georgii Merkulov #42 of the Boston Bruins takes a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the first period at TD Garden on January 04, 2024. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Along with Lysell, the Bruins also sent Georgii Merkulov, another player who was considered a potential favorite (among young players anyway) to make the NHL jump, back down to the AHL.
Merkulov’s demotion comes with the Russian-born forward tied for the team lead with two points (both assists) through three games this preseason. For Merkulov, who was at one point in camp lauded by Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery for his practice habits and efforts, the best play of the preseason came on a slick backhand dish to Justin Brazeau for a goal in last Tuesday’s preseason win over the Capitals at TD Garden.
In addition to the points, Merkulov was credited with three hits, a blocked shot, and won 14 of 30 faceoffs throughout his three-game preseason run with the club.
Sep 26, 2023; Buffalo, New York, USA; Boston Bruins center Trevor Kuntar (52) deflects a shot on Buffalo Sabres goaltender Devon Levi (27) during the first period at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig/USA TODAY Sports)
Elsewhere up front, the Bruins also reassigned forwards Joey Abate, Riley Duran, Brett Harrison, Trevor Kuntar, Adam Mechura, and Jaxon Nelson to AHL Providence. Both Harrison (Thursday in NY) and Kuntar (last Sunday against the Rangers) found the back of the net during their preseason runs with the Bruins.
One notable when it came to this round of cuts is that Tyler Johnson, who is with the Bruins on a pro tryout, remains with the NHL club here beyond the halfway point of the preseason slate.
Sep 24, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Bruins defenseman Michael Callahan (79) checks a shot by New York Rangers center Jake Leschyshyn (15) during the second period at TD Garden. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)
On the point, the Bruins went with some definite expected cuts, with Drew Bavaro, Frederic Brunet, Michael Callahan, Jackson Edward, Ryan Mast, and Mason Millman all assigned to Providence for the opening of P-Bruins camp. Nobody in this group was expected to compete for NHL minutes with the Bruins out of the gate.
In fact, this appears to be a case of the Black and Gold going with the path of least resistance when it comes to their first cuts from the backend, with every waiver-eligible defender who’s ultimately bound for the AHL by the time the season starts remaining with the club at this point in camp.
The B’s backend probably has the least room for movement out of every position group on this roster, with Parker Wotherspoon expected to be Boston’s seventh defenseman after a strong finish to his 2023-24.
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 13: Kasimir Kaskisuo #50 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in warm-ups prior to the game against the New York Islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on November 13, 2019. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
In goal, the Bruins assigned Ryan Bischel and Nolan Maier to Providence, while veteran Kasimir Kaskisuo was released from his pro tryout with the club but also assigned to the P-Bruins.
All three goaltenders failed to draw into action for the club prior to their respective cuts.
