The Washington Capitals got some great news on one of the most important players on their roster, Monday.
Pierre-Luc Dubois was cleared for contact at practice for the first time since undergoing surgery on November 7. The development comes after Dubois missed his 47th game of the season when the Capitals fell 6-5 in overtime to the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night.
Prior to Monday’s practice, the 27-year-old centerman has been participating in skates with his teammates wearing a light blue no-contact jersey. His first jump back on the ice with the club came on January 11 in Nashville ahead of a game against the Predators.
Dubois initially suffered his injury against the New York Islanders on October 31, staying down on the ice after a defensive-zone faceoff. He had played in just six games for the Capitals this season before going under the knife to address injuries to his abdominal and adductor muscles.
The Capitals have previously stated that Dubois is not expected to dress for the team until after the Olympic break. They have six games remaining over the next two weeks before the break, starting Tuesday night in Seattle against the Kraken.
“I don’t read too much into it,” head coach Spencer Carbery said Monday. “He looks good out there. Dubie always looks good, whether he’s in a regular jersey or a light blue jersey. He just continues to progress. Today was a good step. He was kinda partaking in some of the drills that we did, little bit of contact there. Another good day for him, and he’ll just continue on with his progression.”
Dubois is currently traveling with the Capitals on their season-long, six-game road trip out west. In the games he did play this year, Dubois was ice-cold, recording zero points and averaging 15:32 of ice time per game. He posted a career-high 66 points (20g, 46a) in his first campaign with the Capitals last year.
The Capitals’ first game after the Olympic break is at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on February 25.
