There were no standings points attached to this week’s lighter moments around the NHL, but the room had plenty of competition: a charity cupcake showdown in San Jose, brothers sharing center ice in Washington, and players finding creative answers when asked what they do for a living.
From cupcakes to a family matchup
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San Jose Sharks teammates Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith took part in the “Elevated Cupcake Experience,” a charity bake-off featured in a team video released Tuesday. Each had one hour to prepare six cupcake varieties for a judging panel.
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Broadcaster Brodie Brazil joined Tyler Toffoli and Toffoli’s wife, Cat, as judges. Smith arrived with a reputation as the club’s baker, but Celebrini claimed the Elevated Cupcake Cup.
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Wednesday brought the first Hutson Bowl at Capital One Arena, where Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson faced brother Cole Hutson of the Washington Capitals. The brothers met for a center-ice photo before puck drop, marking their first head-to-head meeting at any level.
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Cole Hutson struck first on the scoresheet, assisting on Jordan Kyrou’s first-period goal as Washington built a 2-0 advantage. Lane Hutson answered minutes later with Montreal’s opening goal. Cameras also caught Cole offering Capitals teammates advice on defending his brother.
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Washington held on for a 5-4 win, giving Cole Hutson the result in the first family meeting while Lane took a piece of the scoring honors.
Hockey at the kitchen table
Dallas Stars forward Matt Duchene found out where hockey sits in the household pecking order during a kitchen-table conversation with his daughter, Ellie. In an Instagram video, Duchene asked about the weekend ahead. Ellie identified Friday and a football game, then confirmed she had heard about it at school.
Her next question turned the conversation back to the ice: whether her father had noticed that the Stars had won the previous night.
Martinook takes the road-trip menu seriously
Carolina Hurricanes forward Jordan Martinook has started a TikTok series called “Meals with Marty,” offering his take on restaurants during road trips. His opening stop came in Montreal at Garde Manger, where Jordan Staal and Shayne Gostisbehere were among the Hurricanes joining him.
- Appetizers included beef tartare, octopus, tuna and snow crab.
- The group’s main dishes included duck, steak and scallops.
- Martinook gave the food a 9.1 rating and scored the service at 9.5.
Avalanche players try on other careers
Colorado Avalanche players were asked in a social-media video what profession they tell strangers they have, and the answers went well beyond hockey.
- Defenseman Brent Burns chose dentistry, flashing his teeth for emphasis.
- Nathan MacKinnon said he once claimed to be in school, only to run into trouble when people asked what he was studying.
- Logan O’Connor also went with student, though he questioned how long that answer could still pass.
- Nazem Kadri picked real estate, saying he sells plenty of homes.
