Winnipeg Jets forward Pierre-Luc Dubois will be back in the lineup Sunday night against the Vancouver Canucks after missing the last four games with a lower-body injury.
"It’s been a tough couple of weeks here, getting back into shape and then getting injured and trying to get back into shape again," Dubois said after practice. "It was a muscle injury, something that isn’t too devastating but you also want to be fit to play and now that I’ve practiced and worked out and had a couple team skates here, I’m ready to go again."
Dubois was skating on the wing alongside Mark Scheifele and Blake Wheeler during practice on Sunday, although head coach Paul Maurice said Dubois could return to the centre-position on the second line with Nikolaj Ehlers and Kyle Connor later in the game. Paul Stastny will centre that line to start.
"He’s had a big chunk of time off the ice. The centreman covers a lot more ice and there is a lot more grind to that," Maurice said of the decision to start Dubois on wing. "The other option is going to be Paul Stastny and he flipping. I may do that over the course of the game."
Due to a mandatory 14-day quarantine period, the 22-year-old has only appeared in two games since being acquired by the Jets from the Columbus Blue Jackets on Jan. 23 . He has one goal in seven games this season.
While much about Dubois' ailment is unknown he says he won't be on any minutes restriction or under any special treatment Sunday.
"I’ve never been more ready to go so whatever minutes, whatever role I have tonight and in the next upcoming games, I’m ready for it,” Dubois said.
Connor Hellebuyck will start in net for the Jets on Sunday opposite Braden Holtby for the Canucks.
