After making his NHL debut in Montreal on April 17, Pinto has found his footing just fine at the NHL level.
"It's been good," Pinto said. "I think a lot of the guys have helped me out through these first four games but I'm feeling more and more comfortable each game. I've got to keep improving and I feel good but need to keep going."
In those four games, Pinto has an assist, which came in his first NHL game, while playing 11:12 a night. He's also been involved in the Sens' penalty kill averaging 1:57 a game.
"To have that responsibility is a huge deal to me," Pinto said of being on the PK unit. "I take pride in that. I have some things to work on still on the penalty kill but each day I'm improving and learning more and more. I'm enjoying it."
Tonight will mark his first home game as a pro when the Senators host Vancouver. The 20-year-old has held his own in the faceoff circle so far, winning 41.6 per cent of his draws. But having home ice tonight, and Wednesday, will give the Sens the final change and allow Pinto a better opportunity to matchup against the Canucks' plethora of centre depth.
"It's a huge adjustment especially facing these guys," Pinto said of adapting to faceoffs from the NCAA to the NHL. "They have Horvat, Sutter and Miller. They've got some good faceoff men. Last game I thought I did a much better job.
"It's a learning curve and I'm learning every day and hopefully I continue to get better with that side of the game."
You can include Sens head coach D.J. Smith as one of many who's been impressed with what Pinto's brought to the table to start his NHL career.
"He's really good defensively," Smith said. "Like most guys he's going to make mistakes and turn pucks over but it's really good that he can come in right from college and do what he's doing. Most guys would spend a year, two years, in the American League learning the pro game but he's come in and is learning on the fly and doing a really good job."
The Franklin Square, N.Y., native is bunkering up with another North Easterner in Boston's Colin White. After completing his quarantine, White invited Pinto to move in shortly thereafter but the pair haven't had the chance to spend much time together at home yet with the Sens' embarking on the now completed week-long road trip.
"I'm so thankful for him bringing me in," Pinto said of White. "He's like my big brother. He's been helping me out and making me feel more comfortable.
"He's an awesome guy and I'm really appreciative he took me in. It's been a good setup for me."
