Skyler Brind'Amour Scores First NHL Goal With Dad, Rod, Behind The Bench

It was another loss for the Carolina Hurricanes Thursday night, as they fell 7-5 to the Ottawa Senators in their regular season finale, but yet again, the special moments from the game outshined the outcome.

Specifically, the fact that Skyler Brind’Amour scored his first career NHL goal with his father Rod coaching him from the bench.

With less than a minute to go in the first period, the Hurricanes led a rush up ice and William Carrier put a shot on goal. The rebound popped out to Skyler in front and the rookie managed to get his stick on it for the goal.

“It was obviously pretty cool,” Skyler said. “A nice play by Carrier there and I just had to tap it in, but it was nice after the first one they scored which was on me, to get one back.

“There’s been a lot of emotions, a lot of fun and a little bit stressful at times too, but I’m just trying to enjoy it and play hard and go from there.”

And while a first NHL goal is always special, especially when you can get it just two games into your NHL career, having your dad be behind the bench for it too has to be even more special.

Skyler became just the third player in NHL history to score their first career goal while their father was also the head coach, joining Muzz Patrick (1938) and Lynn Patrick (1934).

In total, he was just the eighth NHL player to have his dad coach him as well.

‘We’ve Just Been Waiting To Get To The Next Level’: Rod Brind’Amour, Andrei Svechnikov On Final Regular Season GameThe Carolina Hurricanes concluded the regular season with a 7-5 loss to the Ottawa Senators.

But on the other side, it’s probably a little tough to have your dad as your head coach too because you know they’re going to be pointing out every single mistake.

“Right now, it hasn’t really sunk in too much because it was a loss and he did turn it over on the one and it cost us a goal,” Rod said. “But it’s been a long journey for him and I’m happy that he can at least say that he tucked one in.”

Rod Brind’Amour talked before his son’s NHL debut, a night earlier in Montreal, that while he’s a parent, he’s also still the coach, so it’s been a pretty interesting dynamic.

“It’s interesting,” Rod said pre-game in Montreal. “The more the game is getting closer, the more I’m getting nervous about it for that reason as a parent more than anything, but I have a job to do and that’s been the focus here all along. Trying to get our guys prepared and you want each player to be prepared to give their best effort and that’s the task here.”

It’s lucky too for Rod to be able to watch these milestones with his son.

He was there when Skyler won the NCAA Championship with Quinnipiac in 2023 and two seasons ago, his son got to make his NHL preseason debut at PNC Arena with the Florida Panthers.

Now, all of the action from the past two days have created, I’m sure, even more memories that won’t soon be forgotten.

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