The Washington Capitals are getting a key piece back just in time for their final push before the Olympic break. Center Pierre-Luc Dubois is set to return to the lineup for Thursday night’s matchup against the Nashville Predators, marking the end of a long road back from injury.
Dubois has been sidelined for more than three months-47 games in total-after suffering an abdomen injury in a 3-1 loss to the Islanders on October 31. The play didn’t look like much at first glance: a cross-check to the leg sent him hobbling to the bench.
But the aftermath was far more serious. What was initially labeled a lower-body injury turned out to require abdominal surgery, knocking him out for the bulk of the season.
Now, with his return slightly ahead of the original 3-4 month timeline, the Capitals are hoping Dubois can bring some stability and spark to a lineup that’s been grinding through the season without one of its top centers.
It’s been a frustrating campaign for Dubois, who had already missed five games earlier in the year with a separate lower-body issue. That’s limited him to just six appearances all season-and he’s yet to register a point.
It’s a stark contrast from last year, when he posted a career-best 66 points (20 goals, 46 assists) across a full 82-game slate. His playoff performance did dip, with only three assists in 10 games, but the Capitals still viewed him as a foundational piece heading into this year.
Where exactly Dubois fits in the current lineup remains to be seen. Earlier in the season, he was most often flanked by Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson. But that duo has found chemistry with rookie Justin Sourdif in the middle, which could push Dubois into a different role-potentially centering the third line alongside Ryan Leonard and Ethen Frank.
One move that does seem clear: Dubois is likely to take the spot of Sonny Milano, who is currently away from the team for personal reasons and listed as day-to-day. Milano has chipped in eight points (four goals, four assists) in 31 games this season, but his absence opens the door for Dubois to slot back in without forcing a major shuffle.
The Capitals have already cleared the necessary roster space to activate Dubois from injured reserve, sending forward Bogdan Trineyev back to AHL Hershey on Wednesday.
Washington heads into Thursday sitting fifth in the Metropolitan Division with a 28-23-7 record. They’re six points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild card spot in the East, though Boston holds a game in hand. With the Olympic break looming, Thursday’s game offers a chance for the Caps to head into the pause with some momentum-and with Dubois back in the fold, they’ll have one more weapon in the fight.