RALEIGH —  If you're not on the Hurricanes bandwagon ... you can still catch the bus.

Brandon Bussi has been a surprise star for Carolina this season in net.

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"He was just solid and obviously has a great record," Rod Brind'Amour said ahead of Game 3 in Carolina's first-round series against the Ottawa Senators. "He did his job, he provided big saves at the right time."

Veteran goaltender Frederik Andersen has started the first two games of the series, both wins, but Brind'Amour said he expects both goalies to see time in the playoffs. The Hurricanes wouldn't be the top seed in the NHL's Eastern Conference without Bussi's historic rookie season.

Claimed off waivers from the Florida Panthers just before the season, an injury to Pyotr Kochetkov opened the door for Bussi. He earned a win in his NHL debut on Oct. 14. And off he went.

"It was a whirlwind," Bussi said. "You're going once place, not expecting to go somewhere else, but I think every kid's dream is to play in the NHL and to have the opportunity to start the year here and everything that's happened has been super exciting."

When the wheels got rolling for Bussi, they didn't stop. The Sound Beach, New York native became the fastest goalie to reach 10 wins, 20 wins and 25 wins in NHL history. He finished the season 31-6-2 with a 2.47 goals against average.

"I've always had confidence in my ability, just waiting for my opportunity," Bussi said. "The team we have in front of me plays really good hockey night in and night out. They make my job pretty easy."

In February, the Canes signed Bussi to a three-year contract extension worth an average of $1.9 million per year. The Hurricanes Foundation also made a $10,000 donation to the Autism Society of North Carolina, a cause close to Bussi's heart.

"I think more so it's just talking about my story," Bussi said. "This is like a new platform for me."

Bussi's goalie mask is designed to raise autism awareness and honor his younger brother Dylan, who has autism.

"We share a strong bond and have a very unique relationship compared to what most people's relationship with their brother is," Bussi said. "I'm not as able to be as close to him. He's in New York and I'm here, but the fact I could put autism and his initials on my helmet, it means a lot."

Other than his brother's initials, the helmet features a puzzle piece design and a colorful butterfly. The puzzle piece and butterfly are symbols for autism awareness.

"The butterfly, I don't want to say is new, but it's kind of become the symbol for autism with the colorful wings," Bussi said. "As the years have gone on, it's become more of an autism acceptance more so than awareness. Both terms are used, but it's understanding them and accepting them in our community."

The mask was designed by artist David Gunnarsson, who has worked with star NHL goalies like Henrik Lundqvist and Dominik Hasek. Bussi and his father were also part of the collaboration.

"Dave has painted my masks the last few years since I've gone pro," Bussi said. "We collaborate on what we are thinking design wise, but a lot of it were my ideas. My family [too], my dad's always been involved a little bit with my helmets. Growing up I was fortunate enough to have some custom helmets as a kid. A few different people put their ideas together and Dave is the artist who puts it all together to make it nice and fluid."

It's the Hurricanes eighth straight playoff run at the Stanley Cup. Bussi could be the missing puzzle piece.

"Hockey works in mysterious ways with opportunity," Bussi said. "I'm super happy to be a part of this group and be here for a few more years."