Puck finally bounces Dubois’ way
DALLAS— Pierreluc Dubois had been in slumps before, but nothing like the drought he ended Sunday night in Vancouver.
“I’ve been in a slump where I wasn’t playing well and not getting points, and I didn’t wonder why because I wasn’t playing well,” said Dubois, who added to his career highs in goals (24), assists (32) and points (56) with a goal and assist in the Jackets’ 5-0 win against the Canucks. “This was a slump where some games I was playing really well. I was getting chances and just (didn’t) score.”
It was the most recent lesson for Dubois, 20, who has learned a lot during his first two NHL seasons. What he learned from his slump is just how random hockey can be.
He hadn’t scored a goal in 13 consecutive games and hadn’t assisted on one in 12 straight prior to Sunday. It wasn’t for lack of effort.
The Jackets’ 4-2 loss last Tuesday in Calgary was the most recent example, when Dubois failed to convert on a number of scoring chances— hitting the crossbar once and also one of the goal posts.
“You look at Calgary and I hit that post, so that’s almost like that same shot (against the Canucks) and it goes in,” he said. “And then there’s other games where I (took) that same shot and it hit the goalie’s stick. Stuff like that … I mean, it started off being frustrating and then it just gets to be like, ‘Really? Is this a joke? What’s going on?’ ”
It was no laughing matter for the Blue Jackets. Despite his age and struggles at the face-off dot, Dubois stirs the drink for the top line when he’s at his best— creating scoring chances for Artemi Panarin and Cam Atkinson, using his size and strength to get pucks back for them and, yes, scoring goals too.
“When ‘Luc’ scored his goal, then he started making plays, started carrying the puck, beating people,” coach John Tortorella said. “He just looked so much more confident. It’s a game that … it’s in your head. It’s amazing what happens if you gain some semblance of confidence.”
Anderson still hot
It’s a story line that is becoming repetitive and one the Blue Jackets would like to see continue. Once again, Josh Anderson threw his weight around. Once again, his combination of size, speed and skill was on full display for yet another group of media who cover the Jackets’ opponent.
Anderson led the way offensively with three points on two goals and one assist against the Canucks, and played the most shifts (25) of any forward on either team.
“The thing with ‘Andy’ that I see is, I think he thinks he can be dominant,” Tortorella said. “He’s believing it. I have a tremendous amount of respect for him, as far as how he continues to try and work at his game.”
Panarin heating up
Artemi Panarin’s goal drought reached 12 straight games against Vancouver, but he assisted on Dubois’ goal early in the second period. Panarin has assists in four of the past six games. He is three assists away from 200 in his NHL career.