The Capitals rookie sent star Jack Hughes hard down to the ice, something that Hughes didn't take too kindly to.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — It didn't really faze Cole Hutson when he realized the player he just threw to the ice was Jack Hughes.
The Washington Capitals rookie got into it with the New Jersey Devils star in the second period of Friday's win, as Hutson threw him off and down to the ice after Hughes was grabbing onto his stick to try to get around him.
"Obviously, he didn't really like what I did there. He was holding my stick because he was driving me wide, so he tried to grab my stick and push me off. The only other option I had to defend him was to hit him, so I had to," Hutson told The Hockey News.
Hughes was less than thrilled, getting back up and delivering a cross check and some words to Hutson as they battled at the netfront. Still, the 19-year-old stayed in the play and ultimately, helped keep the puck out of harm's way.
For Hutson, he was just doing his job.
"You never really want to, like, blow up a superstar like that, because someone might come after you," Hutson said. "He didn't have some really nice things to say to me after that, so just hockey. Kept battling."
It was a moment that stood out in the Capitals' 2-1 victory, and coach Spencer Carbery also praised Hutson for standing his ground and showing some grit against one of the league's best players in what was just his second NHL game.
"Jack sort of gets a little bit of an edge on him there in the 1-on-1. (Cole's) pissed off about he's like, 'Don't try to beat me 1-on-1 ad try to embarrass me. You like that, because it speaks to the competitor," Carbery said. "He doesn't want to be beaten 1-on-1, doesn't want to lose a hockey game, doesn't want someone to get an upper hand on him.
"(With his brother) Lane, I think we've seen over the times that we played against Montreal, he's got a little bit of that as well. Doesn't take kindly to losing or failing, even in individual situations on the ice."
That said, Hutson has nothing but respect for Hughes, but that doesn't change anything.
"He's obviously a superstar, golden goal. Can't say enough good things about him," Hutson said. "It's hockey. I'm trying to do my job and not just gonna let him score."