North Raleigh Today

Scott Morrow, a defenseman for the Carolina Hurricanes, scored his first NHL goal in a 5-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday. Although it was the final goal of the game, it marked a significant milestone for the 22-year-old player.

Morrow's achievement came during his eighth career NHL game and his fourth consecutive appearance since being recalled from the AHL on March 8. He had previously contributed assists in two of his last three games but was eager to score. The opportunity arose when Logan Stankoven took a shot at the Flyers' net, which goaltender Samuel Ersson deflected into Morrow's path. Morrow capitalized by sending the puck past Ersson.

"It was really cool. I was a Flyers fan growing up, my dad was drafted there. I wanted to get (my first goal) tonight," said Morrow. "Even though it wasn't a really important goal for the game, the game was already sealed, it's a big moment for me and my family."

The young player's journey with Carolina began nearly a year ago when he signed with them after being selected in the 2021 NHL Draft. His initial NHL experience included two games at the end of the 2023-24 season.

This season, Morrow has spent most of his time in the AHL where he leads rookie defensemen in goals scored with 13 tallies. His performance earned him additional opportunities with Carolina during an injury absence for Dmitry Orlov.

Morrow's contributions have been notable as he adapts to professional play, aiding Carolina's current seven-game winning streak despite injuries within their lineup.

"[My teammates have] been super welcoming and the energy is just off the charts," said Morrow about fitting into his team’s culture.

Teammate Mark Jankowski expressed joy for Morrow's achievement: “I think five guys on the ice were jumping up and down, the whole bench was going nuts.”

Carolina Hurricanes Head Coach Rod Brind'Amour emphasized how important these moments are: "That's special. The guys know it, they've all been there... Those are little special moments that I think as a group they like to share these things together because they know how important it is."