The game of hockey has been filled with heroes. Most are the star superstar players that have a reputation for coming up clutch. However, there are many unlikely heroes that come out of nowhere. Some of these players chip with a goal out of nowhere, while others come up a large for a game or series. Even more of these unlikely heroes have a season to remember that was never replicated. These unlikely heroes are a part of hockey history. Today, our Last Word On Hockey summer series looks at the Carolina Hurricanes Unlikely Heroes.
Carolina Hurricanes Unlikely Heroes
The Criteria
Some wonder what makes an unlikely hero. It can be a player that comes with a massive improvement out of nowhere. An unlikely hero can step up and chip with a massive goal or a shutout that wasn’t expected. It can also be a player that steps up and has a season to remember. An unlikely hero can player that’s a youngster that gives a breakthrough performance. It can also be a star player that gives one last flash og greatness. The Calgary Flames unlikely heroes come from their glory days.
Niclas Wallin
Background
Before we take a look at Wallin’s spectacular run, keep in mind we’ll only be discussing players since the move to the Raleigh-Durham “Triangle.” There won’t be any moments from the days of the Hartford Whalers in this recap. With that out of the way, we focus on one the biggest of the Carolina Hurricanes unlikely heroes.
Some NHL greats have never scored an overtime playoff-winner. Greats like Mario Lemieux and Gordie Howe never got an overtime-winner in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, Niclas Wallin has three of them in one postseason run.
The Boden, Sweden native only managed to score 28 goals in his NHL career. However, four of them were in the playoffs and three with the Hurricanes in OT.
The Moment(s)
Wallin supplied a pair of those OT goals in the 2002 Stanley Cup Playoffs with one against the Toronto Maple Leafs and the other against the Montreal Canadiens. The goal against Montreal would be noted as the “Molson Miracle” where Wallin’s goal would cap a 3-0 rally in Game 4. Wallin would do it again in the Eastern Conference Final against the Leafs and Carolina would reach the Stanley Cup Final. However, the unstoppable Detroit Red Wings would beat them.
Wallin would bust out one more OT winner with the Canes in 2006. He would beat Martin Brodeur in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference second round in 2006 against the New Jersey Devils. The Swede would beat Brodeur five-hole to help Carolina win. This goal would help the Hurricanes win its first championship since the move.
The Aftermath
Wallin would eventually get shipped to the San Jose Sharks, but his game-winning magic was still there. He’d net the winning goal in Game 2 of the 2011 second-round series against Detroit. All four of his postseason goals were game-winners.
He’d eventually wrap up his career in Sweden in 2011-12. However, Hurricanes fondly remember the player known as The Secret Weapon.
Brandon Bussi
Background
We try not to do players in recent seasons, so we’re not accused of bias. However, Brandon Bussi‘s spectacular season came out of nowhere and he cemented himself as one of the Carolina Hurricanes unlikely heroes. Bussi was claimed off of waivers after the Florida Panthers tried to sneak him through. It looked like Canes general manager Eric Tulsky was just adding an insurance policy in between the pipes.
However, Bussi put together a strong first half before tailing off after the Winter Olympic break. The 27-year-old provided an .894 save percentage in 39 games, but Rod Brind’Amour decided to go with veteran Frederik Andersen in goal. The Dane was strong in the opening three rounds of the playoffs. However, Bussi would return to the lineup to save the day.
(Credit Image: © Jonathan Tenca/Cal Sport Media)
The Moment
Andersen was pulled Game 3, and Bussi saw his first game action in nearly two months. Brind’Amour decided to ride with Bussi, and that changed the momentum in the series. The Vegas Golden Knights couldn’t crack the young netminder and Carolina got back into the series. Bussi would make spectacular saves, and his play would steady the ship.
Carolina would eventually lock things down and Bussi was stingy in goal. He would cap off the series with a 22-save shutout in the clinching Game 6. The Hurricanes were almost left for dead after Game 3. However, the team rallied thanks to the play of Bussi. Jordan Staal may have won the Conn Smythe. However, Carolina’s goalie deserves plenty of credit.
Aftermath
Bussi did sign a contract to stay with the Hurricanes. He will share the crease with Pyotr Kochetkov this coming season. However. Bussi will always be loved by the Hurricanes’ faithful for his part in the regular season and the playoffs.
Bussi’s story is far from over with Carolina. However, this first chapter is a memorable one. The goalie will be remembered as one of the Carolina Hurricanes unlikely heroes.
Honourable Mention
We do have a few others that fit the bill for Carolina Hurricanes unlikely heroes. Let’s start off with Scott Walker, who was more known for his grit then his goalscoring. However, Walker put home a goal in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins to send the Canes to the 2009 Eastern Conference Final.
Let’s move forward to a pair of goalies in our list. Toronto fans will forever hear the name of David Ayres in its nightmares after making an appearance as an emergency backup in 2020. However, let’s also remember Curtis McElhinney stepping up in 2019 to upset the New York Islanders.
Main photo by: Kevin Hoffman-Imagn Images
