Pierre-Luc Dubois, the Capitals' top-six defenseman, will sit out against the Canucks, continuing his recovery from a lower-body injury sustained against the New York Rangers. Dubois, who has yet to record a point in three games this season, skated in a no-contact jersey for a second straight day, indicating his absence from the lineup is likely to extend beyond Sunday's game. Head coach Spencer Carbery confirmed that Dubois will need more time to recover, with a return to full participation potentially scheduled for Monday. This injury has already caused Dubois to miss two games, and his absence has been felt, as the Capitals' shutdown second line, typically manned by Dubois, has struggled to produce points. Connor McMichael has stepped in, playing between Aliaksei Protas and Tom Wilson, but the team's overall performance has been impacted by Dubois' absence. The Capitals, who are on a three-game winning streak, will look to extend their success against the Canucks, with Dubois' return potentially looming on the horizon.
