Aho Returns to the Ice

MONTREAL - Just 10 days after sustaining a concussion and a lower-body injury on the same hit, Sebastian Aho returned to the ice in Montreal.
Aho is traveling with the Carolina Hurricanes on their two-game road trip, and prior to the team's practice in Montreal on Wednesday, Aho took to the ice for an abbreviated solo skate.

"He's coming along," head coach Bill Peters said after practice. "We'll see how it goes. It's going in the right direction. Hopefully he's not that sore tomorrow that he can go back out tomorrow and skate, whether it's in the pregame skate or on his own."
The 20-year-old forward will not return to the Hurricanes' lineup against the Canadiens on Thursday, but if he responds well to today's skate and can then practice and incorporate contact next week, a return soon after NHL All-Star Weekend is not out of the question.

Aho was injured on Jan. 14 in the third period of the Canes' final game before the bye week against the Calgary Flames. As Aho was dangling with the puck and cutting across the slot, Flames defenseman Mark Giordano made contact with the Canes' sophomore forward's head and left knee. Aho was slow to get up and helped off the ice, while Giordano was assessed a match penalty. He received no supplementary discipline. It was announced the next day that Aho would be sidelined indefinitely with a concussion and a lower-body injury. Aho will miss his fourth straight game on Thursday, the first games he's missed due to injury in his young NHL career.
Aho leads the Hurricanes in goals (14) and points (37) through 45 games played this season. The Finnish forward tallied 24 goals and 25 assists (49 points) in his rookie season and has totaled 40 goals and 46 assists (86 points) in 127 career games.