Carolina Hurricanes: 3 Keys to win in Montreal

TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - JUNE 05: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA – JUNE 05: Sebastian Aho #20 of the Carolina Hurricanes looks on during Game Four of the Second Round of the 2021 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena on June 05, 2021, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

Seabass repaying his team

Kotkaniemi’s offer sheet was only set off because of an offer sheet Montreal handed out a few years prior. That recipient was the Carolina Hurricanes best player Sebastian Aho and the drama around Aho and his future that is caused still burdens the face of this organization regarding the speculation it created in Quebec.

When Aho signed the offer sheet the Montreal Canadiens tendered to him, there was a mixed reaction among the fan base. Some felt hurt that Aho would sign anywhere outside of Raleigh, some were grateful that the Canadiens offer sheet was so bad that it was a simple decision to match it. It raised questions that didn’t need to be there.

Traveling to Montreal just serves as a reminder of what happened with Aho, and it always raises these questions that Canes fans are trying so hard to push to the back of their mind while Aho still has three years left on his deal. It’s not fun when these distractions come up when playing an opponent with prestigious history as the Montreal Canadiens organization. It’s a difficult task to ignore them.

It’s why Aho deciding to blast the Montreal Canadiens into space tonight would be greatly appreciated. While Aho does have 2 assists on the year, we’re really yet to see the Aho domination we see where he takes games over completely and makes it clear that the Carolina Hurricanes are just not going to lose.

If Aho can put the puck in the net tonight to end his October blues and his traditional early-season struggles (yes, struggles for someone who is currently a point per game player) then Carolina should come south of the border with six points in the standings in their preparations for the game at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, but that’s not for a while yet.

Schedule