Finding A Home With The Capitals Has Been Sweet For Pierre-Luc Dubois, And Beating His Former Kings Was Even Sweeter

WASHINGTON — "They didn't want you, but you know what? We want you, baby," the Washington Capitals sang to Pierre-Luc Dubois ahead of warmups against the Los Angeles Kings.

It was an emotional Sunday night for the 26-year-old, who felt the nerves building as he faced off against the team that traded him away just one season after he'd signed an eight-year deal to stay on for the long haul.

"You just want to win. You just want to win," Dubois said. "You remember a little bit of the things that happened last year, and all you want to do is win."

He did more than that in his first game facing the Kings since that summer blockbuster that gave Los Angeles Darcy Kuemper. Dubois was a force to be reckoned with against the Kings' top scoring threats and ended up with two primary assists en route to a statement 3-1 victory that put D.C. back atop the Eastern Conference.

"It wasn't easy, but we got it done," Dubois, who was named first star and earned player of the game honors from his teammates, noted with a smile.

Dubois hadn't made the cut with L.A. as the top-6 center he was marketed as, leading to yet another change in scenery and his fourth team in four years when he was sent to Washington in exchange for Darcy Kuemper.

The deal lit a fire under him, and he's made himself at home with the Capitals. He leads the team in scoring through the month of December and has points in seven of his last eight. Through 33 total games this year, he has 24 points, putting him on pace for 60 points.

Even better, the Capitals are 15-3-0 in games where he records a point, and his teammates beam over what a positive presence he's been on and off the ice.

"(He) looks better in red, that's for sure," linemate Aliaksei Protas said.

For Dubois, his success hasn't been about production or points; it's been all about finding his identity and discovering his joy for the game.

And he credits it all to the organization, where finally, he feels at home in the NHL.

"I mean I think it's all the guys in here and, the coaching staff, the confidence that they've put in me to just come in and be myself and just go play," Dubois said. "I've been in situations with good players and I'm just having fun out there."