Pierrick Dubé will become the third French-born player in Capitals history.
The Washington Capitals will see another rising prospect make his NHL debut on Saturday, as Pierrick Dubé will draw into the lineup and play in his first game with T.J. Oshie going down with a lower-body injury.
Dubé will play on the fourth line to start, skating with Aliaksei Protas and Beck Malenstyn. That could change during the game, but it will be a starting point for Dubé, who becomes just the third French-born player in Capitals franchise history.
The 22-year-old earned his opportunity with the big club following a stellar start to his AHL campaign with Hershey, as he put up 24 goals in just 50 games and made a statement as one of the league's best goal-scorers.
Head coach Spencer Carbery is looking forward to seeing what he can do at the highest level, but he also isn't placing too much pressure on Dubé.
"Try to keep the nerves off him and just go play your game. No pressure. You don't have to save the world," he told reporters. "Go out there and compete your butt off and enjoy the moment."
While the expectations aren't high, Carbery said there is a lot in Dubé's game that can benefit the Capitals, the winners of three straight, and that he wants to see that skill set come out against the No. 1 Panthers.
"I just wanna see a young player go out there and compete, show what he does well. He's got good speed, he can shoot the puck, go out there and compete. This is as competitive as a team as there is in the league, so it's a great challenge for him from a heaviness standpoint, wall play, puck battles, forecheck," Carbery said. "It's a great opportunity for him. He's earned this opportunity now to be able to go in and play a National Hockey League game against the best team in the NHL and go out there and compete and show his speed and energy. I'm looking forward to watching him."
Puck drop is at 6 p.m. ET at Amerant Bank Arena.