Carolina Hurricanes Rookie Picks Up First Career Point Against Toronto Maple Leafs

It didn't take Carolina Hurricanes rookie Juha Jaaska long to get accustomed to the NHL.

Right away, the 26-year-old rookie seemed to acclimate himself to the tempo and physicality of the highest level of hockey and he hasn't looked out of place at any point yet in his short career.

"He's been awesome," said Jordan Martinook. "Guys like him, I can see a little bit of me in that. Just in how he plays. You just root for guys like that. He's such a great guy and he's fun to be around, always smiling even though he's got two black eyes. You root for guys like that so extremely pumped for him."

It hasn't been the smoothest road for Jaaska though, either in the immediate or the long-term.

The undrafted Finn spent parts of nine season in Liiga before the Hurricanes signed him to a two-way deal this past summer.

"It was longer, for sure," Jaaska said about his nontraditional path. "When the draft comes and then you're not there and you're likely to be struggling in the Finnish league and you're like think differently about playing in the NHL someday when you're like 20 years old. I don't know. I've just been trying to get better every day and every season. Like small steps. Now I've stayed healthy and I don't know, it's like you don't even see that you've improved. I just feel like other players just aren't good anymore. It's crazy how it feels. It's been long, but it's definitely a journey that I've loved."

Jaaska spent a few months in the AHL, where he's found a lot of success with the Chicaho Wolves, and he earned his first callup at the start of the new year, a game in which he just so happened to have his father in attendance for too.

Related: 'He Means A Lot More Than People Give Him Credit For': Rod Brind'Amour, Jordan Staal, Jordan Martinook, Juha Jaaska On Comeback Win Over Toronto

After that first game though, he went back to the AHL, played a game, took a nasty high stick (hence the double black eyes), got called back up to Carolina the following day and has been here ever since.

"Oh yeah, the last week was heavy," Jaaska said. "First NHL game and then back to the jungle. In the second period get the worst fu... oop sorry... worst high stick. Then back to here. But this has been pretty fun, for sure. You're just so excited to play in the National so it doesn't matter how I'm hurting."

And his game has looked good, so good in fact, that it took Jaaska just four games to pick up his first NHL point, earning a primary assist Thursday night in the Canes' 6-3 win.

Early in the second period against the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Finn collected a pass from Dmitry Orlov along the offensive blueline and then fed fellow rookie Jackson Blake in stride and 53 did not disappoint going five-hole on Joseph Woll for the eventual game-winning goal.

"I didn't even think, like when I see my name on the board... same kind of emotion like when you had in the first game," Jaaska said about hearing his name called in the arena. "Like holy moly. Is this real? Like as a child at some point, you wouldn't believe you were going to make it."

The Hurricanes' fourth line with Jack Drury centering Blake and Jaaska has been dynamite for the team and tonight was no exception.

On top of the game-winning goal, the trio dominated at 5v5, outchancing their opponents 21-2.

"They've been really good," said Hurricanes coach Rod Brind'Amour. "Every game that they've played together has been solid. You need that. We need contributions throughout the whole lineup. More than just contributing, it's the style of play. We have to have that and they're bringing it."

They had more than a few scoring opportunities including a chance for Jaaska in the first period that Woll had to make a challenging glove save on.

"I had a good chance in the first period of the last game too, like an empty netter almost with my backhand, but it's been super fun to play with Drury and Blake," Jaaska said. "I think overall we've had pretty good chances."