Sebastian Aho may have a sore face for the remainder of Game 5. This Carolina Hurricanes-New York Islanders series matchup produced an incredible and humorous goal that delighted fans and players alike.
Just three minutes into the second period, New York’s Pierre Engvall had a shot on net, but it ended up in the face of Carolina Hurricane Sebastian Aho. The ball then landed perfectly for Brock Nelson to poke it out of the air and into the net to give the Islanders a 2-0 lead.
WATCH: Sebastian Aho’s face serves as the back-end for Brock Nelson’s goal that gave the New York Islanders a 2-0 lead in the second period.
The moment was both hilarious and disturbing as Sebastian Aho punched himself in the face with incredible force. However, the Finnish center showed real bravery and resilience to quickly get the game back in his face. Aho even took a spin for the Hurricanes home crowd, much to the delight of the fans.
The goal itself was a beauty, but the circumstances surrounding it made it even more memorable. Brock Nelson’s quick reflexes and hand-eye coordination were impressive as he managed to shoot the shot out of the air and into the net.
Aho’s face accidentally scored an assist, but he took it all in, showing that hockey players have a great sense of humor even in the face of adversity.
The goal had a significant impact on the game as the Islanders took a 2-0 lead into the second period. The Carolina Hurricanes would respond with a goal by Paul Stastny to cut the lead in half.
While the Hurricanes would have preferred not to concede a goal, the singular goal provided a moment of cheekiness in an otherwise tight and hard-fought contest.
The fact that Aho was able to return to the game so quickly after being hit in the face was a testament to his toughness and determination. It showed that hockey players are made of tough stuff.
Whatever the outcome of the match, and whether Aho’s inconspicuous assist ends up being the winning side, it will be remembered for a long time.