Bussi, who inked a one-year, entry-level contract with Boston that begins with the 2022-23 season, won his pro debut on Saturday night in Lehigh Valley after making 28 saves - while also stopping all three Phantoms shootout attempts - to propel the P-Bruins to a 3-2 victory.
The Western Michigan University product followed that up on Sunday with a 26-save showing against Hershey for his first career shutout. Bussi finished the weekend with a 0.96 goals against average and .964 save percentage. He improved to 3-0 with a 36-save victory over Lehigh on Tuesday night in Providence.
Bussi, a native of Sound Beach, New York, spent three seasons with Western Michigan and set a program record with 26 wins in 2021-22, while helping the Broncos to their first-ever NCAA tournament victory.
But the netminder hasn't been the only recently turned pro to impress during his opening week with the P-Bruins. Center Georgii Merkulov also joined Providence last week on an amateur tryout agreement after inking a three-year, entry-level contract ($925,000 NHL cap hit) with Boston that begins next season.
The 5-foot-11, 181-pound pivot notched two assists - helpers on tallies from Chris Wagner and Justin Brazeau - in his professional debut on Saturday in Lehigh Valley, while also scoring the shootout winner on a nifty, patient move in the final round. He added another goal on Tuesday night against the Phantoms in Providence.
The 21-year-old played one season at Ohio State in 2021-22 and led the team with 20 goals and 34 points in 36 games. Merkulov, a native of Russia, spent the previous two seasons with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL.
On Sunday against Hershey, defenseman Michael Callahan, also on an amateur tryout agreement, scored the lone goal in the P-Bruins' 1-0 victory for his first professional tally. On March 14, the Franklin, Mass., native signed a two-year, entry-level contract that begins next season after spending four seasons at Providence College, three of them as a Friars captain.
And on Tuesday night in Providence, Johnny Beecher, the Bruins' first-round pick (30th overall) in 2019, picked up his first two professional goals, including the overtime winner 2:00 into the extra session after a strong rush up the left wing. The Elmira, New York, native, who also picked up an assist on Brazeau's first-period marker, clinched the 5-4 victory with a far-side wrister by Phantoms goalie Pat Nagle.
The 21-year-old signed an amateur tryout agreement with the P-Bruins last week after spending three seasons with the University of Michigan.
