Pierre-Luc Dubois did not last long with Los Angeles Kings. Just one season in his eight -year contract, he was traded at Washington Capitals in June last year for goalkeeper Darcy Kuemper.
Dubois will make his first return to Los Angeles when the eastern conference -leading capitals, which have won five in a row, visit the kings on Thursday evening.
King’s fans may not have lasting memories from Duboi’s time in Los Angeles, but he has not looked back either, instead settled well with one of the NHL’s best team.
Dubois had a goal and two assists in a 7-4 victory against the Anaheim Ducks to open a three-played California swing on Tuesday. He has 17 goals and 40 assists in the season, well within reach to exceed his career height a total of 63 sets with Winnipeg Jets 2022-23.
“I like the guys I play with, it’s safe,” Dubois said. “It’s been fun to be in this team. (My teammates) have helped me a lot throughout the season. They keep helping me, so it just makes my life easier. I just have to do my job and they will do their thing.”
Dubois has also landed in the middle of a historical statistical endeavor.
Washington’s Alex Ovechkin is nine goals from surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record a total of 894. Ovechkin did not score against the ducks, but he contributed three assists.
“It’s fun, it’s exciting,” Dubois said. “When he scores, 50 percent of the audience stands up and celebrates, the other 50 percent have a smile on the face.”
Ovechkin had a small window to shoot on an empty net during the last seconds against the ducks, but he chose to pass to wide open teammate Aliaksei protas, which scored his first NHL hate trick.
“With his Orska performance that comes up, and he makes that game, and how happy he is with me, it says everything about him as a teammate,” said protas about Ovechkin.
The kings have won three straight to maintain third place in the Pacific Division.
Kuemper continues to do its part for Los Angeles. He stopped 33 out of 34 shots in a 4-1 victory against the visiting New York Islanders on Tuesday and has handed only four goals on 84 shots in the last three matches.
“Darcy is obviously a massive part of our team,” said forward Phillip Danault. “If he plays like this every night we have a chance to do something good.”
Los Angeles coach Jim Hiller said the goalkeeper is “maybe not the most important player, it is the most important position because a guy does not play all minutes. You need it at night, especially when you do not have your best as a group forward and defender, and that was (the case against the islands). We relied on him too much, but he was there and he looked good.” “
The kings will also be focused on taking fewer trips to the penalty box against Washington.
Los Angeles was called eight penalties against the islanders, which went 0-for-8 on power play.
“We have to fix it,” Danault said.
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