Game information/links
Date
Wednesday, March 18, 2026
Game preview
After a three-day break, the Washington Capitals are back for the second game of their four-game homestand, and they have a new player.
The Capitals signed defenseman Cole Hutson out of college, and the Boston U. product will make his NHL debut tonight against the Ottawa Senators.
Who’s Cole? Well, I’m glad you asked because RMNB has turned into a Cole Hutson Blog the last few days.
RMNB’s coverage of Cole Hutson
It’s worth noting, the Capitals acquired the right to pick Hutson with the 43rd overall pick at the 2024 NHL Draft after trading the Buffalo Sabres, the new fastest player in the NHL, Beck Malenstyn.
The Capitals will hope Cole can give them a boost as their playoff hopes have dwindled to a paltry 4.7 percent. The team sits eight points behind the current occupant of the second wild card spot, the Detroit Red Wings, and will have to basically win out the rest of the day to get into the postseason.
Ottawa arrives in DC 7-1-2 in their last 10 games and trail the Red Wings by five for a playoff spot of their own.
The Capitals have not beaten Ottawa in two tries this season, getting outscored 11-4.
Please note it’s a 7:30 pm puck drop for tonight’s game.
Lines
Washington Capitals
Ovechkin
Strome
Beauvillier
Ottawa Senators
Goalie matchup
Stats
.914
.886
+24.2
-18.4
Record
23-9-3
21-8-5
🎃
🧠
Tunnel shananigans
Cole Hutson rookie lap
1st Period
Cole Hutson’s mom and dad are at Capital One Arena for the game.
Puck is dropped. Duhaime-Sourdif-Frank and Hutson-Roy get the start.
Fourth line with some huge chances already. Hutson already activates fantastically in the offensive zone.
Next shift: Cole Hutson steals the puck in the D-zone, skates the puck up the ice, and nearly sets up Brandon Duhaime for a goal. This guy is a star.
Hutson’s next shift: another steal. This guy does not look like he has any nerves at all.
Ottawa is outshooting the Capitals 8 to 2 midway through the period.
Tom Wilson just bodied Nick Cousins in the Caps’ defensive zone. He then ripped off Cousins’ helmet as they fell to the ice.
🦓
Penalty kill
Tom Wilson holding penalty (2 mins) at 11:51
Tom is not happy with the call lmao
📸: Kat from #crashers
Drake Batherson rings one hard off the post.
Caps kill the penalty with 6:09 remaining in the period.
Wilson, running hot out of the penalty box, skates the puck down the ice and nearly scores on a huge shot from the left side.
Logan Thompson with a trading card save on Artem Zub from the right circle.
Hutson dazzling again in the offensive zone. He’s like Backstrom on the backend.
At intermission: The score is tied 0-0. The Senators outshot the Capitals 16-7.
2nd Period
Puck is dropped.
🔋
Power play
Nick Cousins slashing penalty (2 mins) at 1:30
Cole Hutson is quarterbacking the second power-play unit.
Caps can’t score.
Rasmus Sandin’s centering pass goes off Alex Ovechkin’s skate and in! That’s Ovi’s 922nd career goal.
🚨
1-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Alex Ovechkin (25). Assists: R. Sandin (21). Time: 8:09
Ovi fist-bumps Ilya and Sergei through the glass after his goal.
With under four minutes remaining, Ovi gets two big chances at 5v5. He’s getting open tonight and getting some opportunities.
Wilson fakes as if he’s gonna pass, pulling Ullmark off the short-side post, and rips it into the net.
🚨
2-0 Washington Capitals
Goal: Tom Wilson (25). Assists: T. van Riemsdyk (8), P. Dubois (4). Time: 18:13
At intermission: The Capitals lead 2-0 after goals by Ovechkin and Wilson. The Caps outshot the Senators 13 to 6 in the second period — though I wouldn’t say they dominated. Shots on goal overall are 22-20 Ottawa.
3rd Period
Puck is dropped.
Senators are now trying to put more pressure on Cole Hutson in the defensive zone, but he’s handling it. Threw a counter hit to make a play.
Tom Wilson decks Shane Pinto behind the net. There’s a huge commotion at the bench between Wilson and Cousins.
Wilson is going to the box for roughing, removing Cousins’ helmet.
🦓
Penalty kill
Tom Wilson roughing – removing opponent’s helmet penalty (2 mins) at 5:35
Pinto breaks his stick on a one-timer at the top of the circles, throwing the handle of his stick hard against the boards in frustration.
Sens got some looks, had 1:32 of zone time, but the Capitals kill the penalty.
Eight minutes in, the Senators are outshooting the Capitals 9-0. That doesn’t seem to portend well but we’ll see.
Hendrix Lapierre deflects a Rasmus Sandin shot off the post past Ullmark. Not a shot, but almost a goal!
Dylan Cozens tries to deke around four guys in the offensive zone and gets decked by Tom Wilson.
Ryan Leonard stopped on a breakaway. He dekes and tries to beat Ullmark to the far post, but he’s got to get that shot up if he’s going to score.
🦓
Penalty kill
Anthony Beauvillier slashing penalty (2 mins) at 14:13
Capitals kill the penalty.
Senators pull Ullmark with just over 3 minutes to go in regulation.
Senators score after a shot deflected by PLD appears to go off of Sandin and and Stützle and in.
🚨
2-1 Washington Capitals
Goal (6v5): Tim Stützle (31). Assists: C. Giroux (31), T. Chabot (23). Time: 17:19
Pro scores an empty-netter from neutral ice. His goal song for this one was “Country Roads.”
🚨
3-1 Washington Capitals
ENG: Aliaksei Protas (31). Assists:C. McMichael (24). Time: 18:28
🔋
Power play
Tyler Kleven high-sticking penalty (2 mins) at 18:48
Cole Hutson scores his first NHL goal in his first NHL game!
🚨
4-1 Washington Capitals
PP ENG: Cole Hutson (1). Unassisted. Time: 19:34
Free Nuggs.
Capitals win 4-1.
Caps beat Senators 4-1 in Cole Hutson’s debut
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