Mar 11, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Washington Capitals left wing Pierre-Luc Dubois (80) carries the puck through the third interval in opposition to the Anaheim Geese at Honda Heart. Obligatory Credit score: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Pictures Pierre-Luc Dubois did not final lengthy with the Los Angeles Kings. Only one season into his eight-year contract, he was traded to the Washington Capitals final June for goalie Darcy Kuemper.
Dubois will make his first return to Los Angeles when the Japanese Convention-leading Capitals, who’ve gained 5 in a row, go to the Kings on Thursday night time.
Kings followers might not have lasting reminiscences of Dubois’ time in Los Angeles, however he hasn’t appeared again both, as a substitute settling in properly with one of many NHL’s greatest groups.
Dubois had a purpose and two assists in a 7-4 win in opposition to the Anaheim Geese to open a three-game California swing on Tuesday. He has 17 targets and 40 assists on the season, nicely inside attain of surpassing his profession excessive level complete of 63 set with the Winnipeg Jets in 2022-23.
“I am liking the blokes I am enjoying with, that is for certain,” Dubois stated. “It has been enjoyable to be on this group. (My teammates) have helped me lots all through the season. They hold serving to me, so it simply makes my life simpler. I simply need to do my job and so they’ll do theirs.”
Dubois has additionally landed in the midst of a historic statistical pursuit.
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin is 9 targets from surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s NHL-record complete of 894. Ovechkin didn’t rating in opposition to the Geese, however he did contribute three assists.
“It is enjoyable, it is thrilling,” Dubois stated. “When he scores, 50 p.c of the gang will get up and celebrates, the opposite 50 p.c has a smile on their face.”
Ovechkin had a small window to shoot at an empty internet within the closing seconds in opposition to the Geese, however he opted to cross to wide-open teammate Aliaksei Protas, who scored to finish his first NHL hat trick.
“Along with his unreal accomplishment developing, and he makes that play, and the way comfortable he’s with me, it says every little thing about him as a teammate,” Protas stated of Ovechkin.
The Kings have gained three straight to take care of third place within the Pacific Division.
Kuemper continues to do his half for Los Angeles. He stopped 33 of 34 photographs in a 4-1 win in opposition to the visiting New York Islanders on Tuesday and has surrendered simply 4 targets on 84 photographs in his previous three video games.
“Darcy is clearly an enormous piece of our group,” ahead Phillip Danault stated. “If he performs like this each night time, we have now an opportunity to do one thing good.”
Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller stated goalie is “perhaps not crucial participant, it is crucial place as a result of one man does not play all of the minutes. You want it on nights, significantly when you do not have your greatest as a bunch of forwards and defensemen, and that was (the case in opposition to the Islanders). We relied on him means an excessive amount of, however he was there and he appeared good doing it.”
The Kings additionally will probably be targeted on taking fewer journeys to the penalty field in opposition to Washington.
Los Angeles was known as for eight penalties in opposition to the Islanders, who went 0-for-8 on the facility play.
“We have got to repair that,” Danault stated.
–Subject Degree Media
