Dubois making an impact

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This article was published 17/03/2021 (1634 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pierre-Luc Dubois entered Wednesday night’s tilt against the Montreal Canadiens on a scoring low. 

With just two points in his previous nine games, it wasn’t exactly the kind of production that screams elite NHL centreman. Only compounding the issue was the fact that prior to going dark, the 22-year-old Winnipeg Jet had started to heat up, including three goals and five points in two games while playing on the wing.

A couple games later, Dubois returned to his natural position up the middle, this time flanked by wingers Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor. Grouped with arguably the Jets’ two best scorers, one would have thought Dubois was well equipped to hit another streak.

Instead, he went cold. At least on the score sheet.

But Dubois doesn’t see it quite that way, even if he’s brutally honest with himself. He said he’d like to make a bigger impact on the scoreboard, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t trying — or making an impact.

“Hockey is a lot more complicated than points and stuff like that. I’m definitely not where I know where my game can be. I’m not hiding that either. I know I can be a lot better and in a lot of aspects,” Dubois said following the morning skate.

“It’s hard to just play defence. It’s hard to just play offense. But it’s even harder to do both and that’s what I’m trying to do out there. It’s one game at a time, it’s doing video, it’s talking to line mates and teammates and the coaching staff, trying to get adjusted as much as I can.”
– Pierre-Luc Dubois

“It’s face offs, it’s D-zone, it’s coverage, it’s offensive zone, being in their zone, it’s dominant possession. It’s everything that contributes to the player I know I can be. It’s hard to just play defence. It’s hard to just play offense. But it’s even harder to do both and that’s what I’m trying to do out there. It’s one game at a time, it’s doing video, it’s talking to line mates and teammates and the coaching staff, trying to get adjusted as much as I can.”

On Wednesday, Dubois was back at it, finishing with three assists, two coming goals from Connor, and the other to Ehlers on the final dagger in a 4-3 overtime win over the Canadiens.

Dubois took position in front of the net on the first goal, acting as a screen before tipping a puck off an Ehlers shot that bounced to a wide-open Connor for an easy tap-in. Then, with the puck on his stick in the high slot, Dubois make a quick move on Montreal’s Nick Suzuki before firing a shot on Carey Price, only for Connor to pounce on the rebound for his second of the night.

Finally, Dubois drew the lone assist on Ehlers’ overtime winner, with Ehlers doing most of the work, flying up the ice before beating Carey Price with a low shot.

While neither goal will find itself on a highlight reel, they both showcased the kind of hockey IQ and strength that the Jets were drooling over when they traded for Dubois, sending away Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic to Columbus.

It’s also the reason why his linemates are eager to play with Dubois.

“His game has grown definitely since he’s come with us, just getting familiar playing with a couple different lines. He’s been on wing, now centre. Like you said, for seven games, but I think his strengths are he’s a smart player, reads the play really well, knows where to be in the right spots. He’s a big body, too, and controls pucks,” Connor said.

“That’s what we’re starting to learn. We got a little bit of that last game, get the puck behind the net and he really thrives in the offensive zone there, drawing a couple guys to him and making guys miss and getting to the net. That’s what I’ve learned playing with him. That’s his strengths. He wants the puck and wants to be that driver for our team.”

There’s also the fact Dubois, like all centres, have an added responsibility in the defensive zone. And with Connor and Ehlers not exactly known for their suffocating defence, there’s a cost to picking up the slack.

“I think his strengths are he’s a smart player, reads the play really well, knows where to be in the right spots. He’s a big body, too, and controls pucks.”
– Kyle Connor

But if Dubois is up for the task, and can continue to develop chemistry with his line, there’s a real chance this trio can — and should — be among the top in the NHL.

“They’re two guys that can shoot, that can pass, that can skate. They’re two players that have creativity. We’re still getting used to each other. As a centreman I’m still trying to get used to their habits and supporting them,” Dubois said. “But two great guys and great teammates also, so they’re easy to talk to. I think as the season goes on and if we keep playing together we’ll just become better together and we’ll just read off each other even better.”

Given what Paul Maurice had to say earlier in the day — and after what was seen through three periods Wednesday – it sounds as though Dubois will get his wish. As for the points, or lack thereof, it’s not an issue the Jets bench boss is spending much time thinking about.

“I’m aware of the numbers and then do you ask yourself, ‘Do you care?’ And what I mean by that is is there a problem with the number as it relates to the way the line or the team is playing? And for me, there isn’t. It almost doesn’t matter if the line’s scoring or those guys are scoring on the power play, it’s the good feeling about how the wingers feel and they both like playing with the guy,” Maurice said.

“The fact that he doesn’t have numbers, and then there’s the great big number over here that’s way more important, Winnipeg Jets wins and losses, so then I would say it’s not a concern for me. We’re going to give this lots of time. We think there’s a lot there and probably the only…Pierre-Luc would be aware of that number and want to contribute more but I like what him in that hole does for our entire group.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

twitter: @jeffkhamilton