Aho's Elite Scoring: Hurricanes' Playoff Hopes

0:00For the NHL, it's March 20th, and here's what's going on. Sebastian Ajo has been a model of reliability for the Carolina Hurricanes since his rookie year in the 2016-17 season. He's led the team in points in most seasons, with just two exceptions early on. Recently, he notched his 700th career point on an overtime winner against the Pittsburgh Penguins, putting him in a league company among. Hurricanes greats. Over eight full seasons, Ajo has topped 50 points every year except his debut, and he's cleared 70 or more in most campaigns. Excluding the shortened 2020-1 schedule, he's never did to below 65 points. That kind of steady production has him closing in fast on Eric Stahl's 575 point mark for the franchise since it's moved to. Carolina, Ajo already holds team records in shorthanded goals, game-winning goals, and overtime winners, sealing victories about six or seven times per season. He's not pacing Jordan Stahl, who sits at 492 points, and could pass Eric Stahl's total before the playoffs, if he stays healthy.

1:07In the postseason, Ajo shines brightest with 85 points in 89 games, far ahead of teammates, like Andrei Spesnikov. He's led Carolina in playoffs scoring in nearly every deep run, carrying them to third-round appearances. This year, at 69 points in 68 games, Ajo's on pace for another point per game season, his 5th. As the Hurricanes chase a Stanley Cup final birth for the first time in 20 years, they'll lean heavily on their 28-year-old fin to. Breakthrough once more.