Dubois finds range, Jets sweep Canucks mini-series
VANCOUVER — Pierre-Luc Dubois was quick to make an impact in his return to the Winnipeg Jets lineup.
After missing four games with a muscle injury, the 22-year-old forward returned with a vengeance Sunday, tallying two goals — including the OT winner — and an assist as the Jets topped Vancouver Canucks 4-3. Still, Dubois feels he has more to give. “My game is still not where I know it can be. I know I can improve on a lot of things — timing, execution, reads, stuff like that,” he said. “But it felt good to be out there.”
Dubois’ first goal put Winnipeg (11-6-1) on the board midway through the second period.
Blake Wheeler found his linemate at the bottom of the slot and fed him a slick pass from the goal line. Dubois beat Vancouver netminder Braden Holtby with a quick snap shot to collect his first goal in a Jets jersey.
He added a helper on Neal Pionk’s thirdperiod power-play dagger, and captured the win with his second goal of the night 27 seconds into overtime.
Sunday was Dubois’ third game for Winnipeg. He started the season by publicly expressing his desire for a trade and the Columbus Blue Jackets responded, dealing the former third-overall pick to the Jets for forwards Patrik Laine and Jack Roslovic on Jan. 23.
Sunday’s result was a frustrating one for the Canucks (8-12-2), who held a 2-0 lead coming out of the first period.
Brandon Sutter opened the scoring 3:38 into the game, and Elias Pettersson added two more goals, including a power-play blast that forced overtime with 38 seconds on the clock.
But it was the Swedish centre’s first-period strike that appeared to leave Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck shaking his head.
Pettersson had his back to the net when he put a stunning no-look shot through his legs and into the top-left corner.
Coming back late in the third was big for Vancouver, Pettersson said, but there are still some plays the team would redo if they had the chance.
“We have to be more crisp with the puck. I was trying to make some plays, I was losing too many puck battles,” he said. “I mean, we have the game in our hands but we kind of let it go.”
Hellebuyck had 31 saves on Sunday and Holtby stopped 27 shots for Vancouver.
Sunday’s result gave Winnipeg the sweep of a two-game series between the two sides.