‘He does it all’: Hurricanes’ Sebastian Aho, new linemate Max Pacioretty get along fine
Sebastian Aho had a goal and assist the last time the Carolina Hurricanes faced off against the New Jersey Devils.
That was on New Year’s Day, the Canes coming away with a 5-4 shootout win on the road. For Aho, it was a good way to start a new year: The Canes center stole the puck and converted a gaffe by Devils goalie Mackenzie Blackwood for a shorthanded goal.
The Hurricanes and Devils go at it again Tuesday at PNC Arena, Carolina (25-8-7) holding a four-point lead over New Jersey (25-12-3) at the top of the Metropolitan Division, despite an 0-2-1 slide.
Aho has acquired a new linemate since the last New Jersey game: Max Pacioretty.
Pacioretty, recovered from a preseason Achilles tear, made his Hurricanes debut last week against Nashville. He then started on Aho’s line Saturday, scoring twice — the second on a power play — in the Canes’ shootout road loss to Columbus.
First impressions of the new guy?
“Very strong on the puck, big body out there, plays the game pretty simple and straight away,” Aho said Monday of the veteran forward. “He’s easy to read off. He has a heavy shot, so it’s my job to find him and let him use that shot. He wins a lot of battles out there, goes to the net hard, forechecks. He does it all.”
The two saw a lot of each other in late December. Aho missed seven games with a lower-body injury and Pacioretty was continuing his rehab. The two skated together at times while Aho was sidelined and sat together watching the Canes play games.
When the Canes and Devils first played this season, on Dec. 20 at PNC Arena, Aho was an antsy observer from high above as the Hurricanes won 4-1, despite being outshot 38-20.
“I was biting my nails, you know,” Aho said, smiling.
“It’s so hard mentally. It hurt to watch. Especially up there. So high up, the game looks kind of slow and you would think, OK, there’s so much more time than there actually is. It wasn’t fun at all. I was anxious to get back.”
Aho said his injury stemmed from an issue that he had been “playing through for a while” before he finally shut it down after the Dec. 6 road game against Anaheim. Those who know Aho, who burns to play and compete, knew it had to be pretty serious for him to come out of the lineup.
Before sitting down, Aho had scored in each of his past two games — including the game-winner against the Los Angeles Kings — and had 11 goals and 27 points in 26 games for the season.
“I thought he was playing phenomenal until he got taken out,” Canes coach Rod Brind’Amour said Monday.
One consolation for Aho was the Canes getting on a heater and winning all seven games he missed. He rejoined the lineup Dec. 23 against Philadelphia, and said Monday he has had no further injury issues, though he’s not completely pleased with his play.
The shorthanded goal against New Jersey has been his only goal. He has three assists, including one Saturday, and has a minus-4 plus/minus rating in the seven games.
“Not the level I want,” Aho said. “I know I can be better. I know my line can be better. Power play can be better. All that stuff.”
Aho had a solid-enough game Saturday in the loss at Columbus. Centering Pacioretty and Seth Jarvis, he had 22:37 in ice time, his highest total since being sidelined, and won nine of 12 faceoffs. Aho also assisted on Pacioretty’s power-play goal.
“It hasn’t been awful, I wouldn’t say, but I know there’s an extra gear up there and it’s coming,” Aho said. “It’s coming for sure. For some reason it’s taken a little time after that little break for me to get it back to where it was and where I want to be. I’m working every single day to get it back to the level I want.”
Carolina Hurricanes vs New Jersey Devils
When: Tuesday, 7 p.m.
Where: PNC Arena, Raleigh.
TV: ESPN+, Hulu.
