2024-04-23 20:45:21
EDMONTON – By his own admission, Pierre-Luc Dubois had a disappointing season.
His 16 goals scored and 40 points collected in 82 games speaks volumes for this.
Just like minus-9 differential and an average usage time of 15:42 per game. A tenure that was even more fearful at the start of the season under the orders of Todd McLellan who did not hesitate to question the involvement and intensity of Dubois on the ice. Usage time usually given to a support player and not to a leading center.
Because it really is a leading center that the Kings have acquired, at a very high price, Winnipeg Jets on 23 June.
Or thought they acquired!
Remember: after agreeing to offer to the Jets Gabriel Vilardi (22 goals, 36 points in 47 games this season), Alex Iafallo (11 goals, 27 points in 82 games), hope’s contractual rights Rasmus Kupari and a second-round pick (37th pick), the Kings had the Jets agree to the parameters of an eight-year contract with Dubois. A contract worth a total of $68 million that the Kings would not have been able to offer him through the free agent market.
A past that guarantees the future?
Kings head coach Jim Hiller agreed that Dubois has been through some tough stretches this season. But Hiller is confident the playoffs will allow Dubois to redeem himself.
“I remember the performance he had in the playoffs while he was with Columbus. The playoffs are made for him and for his style of play. He finished the regular season in a good way and I expect him to be a force for us starting tonight, assured Hiller a few hours before the first game.
The new Kings head coach referenced the impressive performances of the 20-year-old Dubois during the 2019 playoffs when he helped the Lightning’s four-game elimination of the Blue Jackets in the first round. He also referred to the colossal effort – three goals, four points in five games – carried out the following season to eliminate Maple Leafs from Toronto from the first round again with his Blue Jackets teammates.
Philip Danault also came to the defense of his new teammate before the first game.
“Pierre-Luc may not have had the season he wanted, but we have to be careful before we draw any conclusions from that. During a career it is normal to have better and worse seasons. It happened to me in my last year with the Canadiens. Remember: I only scored five goals, it seems to me (5 goals, 24 points in 53 games in 2020-2021), but I made the playoffs as we made it to the Cup Final against Tampa. PL is still a very big acquisition for us. He represents the big center that we needed and that the organization was looking for, and I am confident that the series that starts will allow him to forget the season and prove his importance in our team. »
Despite the pleas of Hiller and Danault, the redemption of Pierre-Luc Dubois didn’t fall from the sky in the first match.
A lucky goal, three good performances
The only thing that fell from the sky to help the cause of Quebecois is the goal he scored at the end of the third periodin a lost case, when the defender Darnell Nurse warded off a pass that was sent into the groove behind the goalkeeper Stuart Skinner.
Aside from the lucky goal, Dubois had a solid presence going one-on-one with Connor McDavid which he held for around forty seconds before retreating to the bench. He and his linemates also had a good streak in enemy territory.
For the rest: not much. Not enough to offer good opposition to the Oilers and give themselves a chance to win. Even less to talk about some form of redemption.
A redemption that Dubois is the first to wish for.
– The season was difficult. I’ll be the first to admit it. But the playoffs are the ideal opportunity for me to erase what didn’t work well and prove that I can contribute to the success of this team, Dubois told the reporters around him.
Help, in any way
Helping the Kings’ cause won’t necessarily translate into goals and points, warns Dubois. Especially since it was within a fourth trio he coached before the Kings went to Edmonton for the first two games.
On Monday night, he started the game with Quinton Byfield a Kevin Fiala within a third trio that would normally have made life difficult for the Oilers’ third trio: that of Ryan McLeod flanked byEvander Kane a Corey Perry.
It didn’t happen.
The Dubois trio, like the rest of the Kings, remained on their heels much more often than on their toes. He also took a lot more offense from the Oilers than he dished out.
With the consequences we know: a 7-4 loss that practically forces the Kings’ hand to even the odds on Wednesday before they return to California for games three and four.
In the third period, Viktor Arvidsson even came to join Dubois while Fiala went to replace him in the second right of Philip Danault. An indication of what awaits Dubois for the second meeting?
“I’m never going to be a 120-point-per-year guy. But I have to take other avenues to help the team’s cause. I have to be able to spend time in the enemy zone, to create momentum that maybe allows other lines to score goal. This is the key to success and we have to do it in each of our performances,” analyzed Dubois.
How does Dubois intend to achieve his goals in the second game when he failed in the first?
“Like the rest of the team, I wasn’t solid enough last night (Monday). The good news is that we have easy-to-implement ways to help us bounce back. We have to be tighter in defence. More disciplined too,” said the man who received two of the four minor penalties awarded to his team.
“It’s my first series against the Oilers, but the guys warned me to watch out for penalties because of the power of their massive offense. There is a fine line between wanting to apply pressure and ending up in the penalty box. I have to be more careful tomorrow (Wednesday),” said Dubois, who was in the penalty box for one of the three power play goals scored by the Oilers.
“We lost the first game, but there is still a lot of hockey ahead of us. We just have to get better. Me first,” concluded the imposing midfielder (6′ 4” and 225 pounds), who turns 26 on June 24.
Between the lines
– In light of the information gathered around the Oilers and Kings locker rooms on Tuesday, Stuart Skinner a Cam Talbot should be back in goal in the second game…
– Without being bad in the first game – he allowed six goals on 44 shots including three, while the Oilers were on a massive attack – Talbot must provide more important stops for his team in the second game. He must be as good as his counterpart – Stuart Skinner blocked 33 of the Kings’ 37 shots, but made more big saves than Talbot – if he wants to give his team a chance at victory…
– Although he invited all of his players to participate in a light workout at Rogers Place, Kris Knoblauch made sure to keep it simple. “I just wanted them to stretch their legs a bit. Don’t talk about making a video today. There is no question of increasing the number of strategic meetings. Our boys are ready and they need to be, because we expect more resistance from the Kings for the second game…
– Knock your knees off dangerously Trevor Moore at the end of the middle period, Vincent Desharnais showed no repercussions from the attack on the Kings player on Tuesday. “I was lucky,” he agreed. “It could have been really serious,” the Quebec defender added…
– After analysis of the illegal control of Trevor Moore, player safety officials decided not to impose further sanctions. In my eyes, a fine would have been justified, but it is they who decide and not me…
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