Carolina Hurricanes suddenly dropped out in the second round of the playoffs. The loss was due to confusing difficulties in the guest trough. Sebastian Aho, who has returned to Finland, has turned his attention to what is to come.
9.6. 06: 31 • Updated June 9. 08:00
’s next NHL broadcast is on Friday morning as the New York Rangers and Tampa Bay Lightning meet in their fifth match starting at 3:05 p.m.
In the NHL, the doctrine is hard on even the best. Carolina Hurricanes has been known as a potential spring team for a few years now, but so far it hasn’t been able to play in the Stanley Cup. Last year, the journey in the playoffs was interrupted by a second round reading in Tampa Bay.
At the same time this year, the road rose up against the New York Rangers.
There were not many similarities between the two losses of the same style. A year ago, the hurricane herd faced the greatest dynasty and great society of our time, but now the defeat came as a surprise. The Rangers are a quality team, of course, but Carolina, who finished third in the regular season, went to the series as a favorite.
Returned to Finland over the weekend Sebastian Aho admits the loss of the seventh match on home ice is still stinging.
– In the name of honesty, we would have needed all possible successes against Tampa a year ago. Everything should have gone according to our script because they were so ahead of us. Now the situation was different, because everyone had the feeling that there is nothing better for us in this series, Aho says to Sport.
Nice at home, not at guests
During the spring, one clear theme was built around Carolina: the ability to make a profit only in the home trough. Carolina won seven of their eight home matches and some of them scored several goals, but in the away corner, the team melted completely.
Of the six travel games, no wins were caught in the end, which also increased the pressure to win at home. The trip was interrupted when the Rangers won the second round of the second round in Raleigh.
– Not all of our away games were bad, but we couldn’t win. However, in the playoffs, you are required to scratch at least one win for the guests. For some reason, our special situation play was also much worse in away games. Why this was the case is hard to answer, but this is a clear factor as to why this happened to us.
Aho hit the nail on the head with special situation playing. Carolina succeeded at home with an outperform of one-in-five pace, but in away games, the superiority was only 4 percent effective (1/24).
The responsibility for the problems of the game of superiority in particular lies to the greatest extent possible with Aho and for example Teuvo with Sharp. Aho scored two assists in six away games, Teräväinen scored one goal.
– It is clear that I have to be better and that is why we will soon start doing things again, Aho says.
However, Aho does not admit that the problems of away play have begun to live on as the playoffs progress their own lives within the team.
– These are the end games of the media to talk about such things. I didn’t feel like it had become any bastard or troll to us. Hockey is sometimes like this and I think in a series of seven games, the team that deserves it always goes on.
“Defeat to remember”
There were still good things in the spring in Carolina. The overthrow of Boston in the first round was an important issue for the team after the playoffs in previous years. On the other hand, even in that series, Carolina’s key players were tested really hard by the best in the world.
For example, through the last exchange advantage, Aho had to play in the Boston home game from exchange to exchange Patrice Bergeronin against the number one chain led by. Bergeron won the Best Defensive Striker award for the fifth time in his career on Monday. Aho did not score a single power point in three matches played in Boston.
School was tough, but Aho takes it as a lesson.
– It was really systematic for both of them how the chain was played against the chain in that series. After all, Bergero is a stunning player, and he won’t win the Selke Award for the fifth time. It has a player from whom he has tried to learn himself. Now is the summer time to put your body in top condition and still develop a little bit of all aspects, Aho says.
It is the unquenchable thirst for development that makes Sebastian Aho special. All the player’s speech is ruthlessly disappointing. Instead of being bitter, this has turned their gaze on how to make themselves and their team better again next year. Aho assures that the summer exercises will soon be strong.
– I see we can learn from this. We have a core team at a good age and a good outfit next year. One has to remember what the loss feels like and learn to hate that feeling. It will carry next year. Personally, I want to measure everything out of myself. Yes the loss is remembered and it shows in the summer practice that I want to be the best.
Aho’s plans for the summer are clear in mind. In addition to practice, time for a player moving in the direction of Oulu is spent with family and friends, as well as on golf and tennis courts. Aho has also been keeping an eye on the final games of the NHL season. Aho raises one club as his champion favorite.
– Colorado has already gone to the finals, they are definitely some kind of favorite. Tampa, on the other hand, can never be counted out, however, have won two championships. It’s hard to guess in the NHL to ever leave, Aho laughs.