Whether it was luck or skill can be left up for debate, but what isn’t: Cole Hutson had one of the best games of his career against the Nashville Predators.
Hutson notched the first multi-goal game of his career against the Predators — a rare feat for a rookie defenseman in the NHL — picking the corners for two sensational highlight-reel goals.
Cole Hutson’s first goal against Nashville
Hutson’s first goal of the night came from virtually no angle. After jumping into the play to keep the puck in the zone, Hutson skated to the right side where the puck eventually cycled over to him near the goal line. With the undersized 5-foot-11 Juuse Saros in net, Hutson called his own number and fired a wrist shot above the Predators netminder’s left shoulder, finding several inches of available space where the crossbar meets the post short-side.
“Look where he shoots from,” Monumental Sports Network analyst Craig Laughlin says. “He had a six-by-three (inch) or so area to put that puck in.”
The goal tied the game 1-1 with 3:47 remaining in the first period.
“Yeah, it took a lot of luck,” Hutson said afterward. “But (I) took a look up and saw a little space there. So kind of just a hope play, and lucky it went in.
“I didn’t really expect that to go in, so I’m pretty shocked… but definitely felt good, yeah.
Cole Hutson’s second goal against Nashville
Hutson followed that up with another sensational play. Taking a backhanded pass from Aliaksei Protas along the half wall, Hutson jumped into the middle of the ice where he deked around a falling Jack Drury and then ripped a shot from between the circles that went bardown past Saros.
The Capitals posted a replay featuring video directly behind the goal, which shows the puck coming right into your living room.
The goal gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead with 6:14 remaining in the second period.
According to Caps PR, with the two goals, Hutson is one of just three rookie defensemen to have a multi-goal game in the last four seasons, joining Matthew Schaefer (four times) and Michael Benning.
He also became the fifth rookie defenseman in Capitals history to record a multi-goal game, joining Ken Klee (May 2, 1995), Mikhail Tatarinov (March 16, 1991), Peter Andersson (March 1, 1984), and Greg Theberge (Nov. 21, 1981).
On the evening, Hutson finished 1.25 goals above replacement and was nearly three times as effective as the next-closest Capitals player.
Hutson’s big night came after being paired with waiver-wire pickup Jack St. Ivany for a second consecutive game.
“Yeah, he’s unbelievable,” Hutson said. “Easy to read off, really defensive. He’s able to kill plays quick and make us transition quick north. So he’s been unreal. So hopefully we can keep it rolling.”
Inside the locker room, Hutson was named the team’s “Legend of the Game,” where, shirtless, he threw on Alex Ovechkin‘s rookie helmet as teammates chirped him.
Hutson now has 7 points (4g, 3a) in 12 games this season and ranks second in scoring among Capitals defensemen, trailing only Jakob Chychrun, who has 9 points (1g, 8a).
