Takeaways: Hutson Shines & Scores In NHL Debut, Ovechkin & Thompson Power Capitals Past Senators

WASHINGTON — All eyes were on Cole Hutson as he took the ice for his first taste of NHL action with the Washington Capitals, and it was easy to see why. The hype has been growing around the 19-year-old since being taken in the second round in the 2024 NHL Draft, and on Wednesday, he showed that the wait was well worth it as he shined and scored in his debut, while Alex Ovechkin, Tom Wilson and Logan Thompson stepped up to help D. C.

pull off a needed 4-1 win over the Ottawa Senators. Here are the takeaways from the victory. Hutson Impresses In NHL Debut The Capitals had been waiting for "Magic" for some time, and Cole Hutson didn't disappoint as he made his NHL debut against the Senators.

Hutson was thrown right into NHL action, in the starting lineup with Matt Roy and first over the boards for the power play. At first, he eased into things while getting acclimated, and as time went on, he started to come out of his shell more and more. The 19-year-old showcased his smooth skating ability and took good care of the puck, making some impressive plays, finding his teammates on the tape, threading the needle and using his finesse and speed to elude his opponents.

Cole Hutson is impressing early 👀 📺: Sportsnet pic. twitter. com/01dv19kuGp — Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 19, 2026 Then, on a late power play with the goalie pulled, Hutson scored his first NHL goal.