Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Sourdif Return to Capitals Lineup Against Reeling Sabres

The Washington Capitals are finally getting some reinforcements, which is a massive relief for a team that just spent their last game getting completely dismantled 5-2 by the Los Angeles Kings. Pierre-Luc Dubois and Cole Sourdif are officially drawing back into the lineup tonight against the Buffalo Sabres.

Daily Faceoff dropped the update just in time to scramble the board for anyone trying to figure out what to do with this Eastern Conference matchup. Getting Dubois back gives Washington a legitimate center option to stabilize a rotation that has been holding on by duct tape and vibes.

"Daily Faceoff reported that Dubois and Sourdif are returning against the Sabres."

Dubois is looking to finally turn the page on a brutal stretch of injury luck. He previously had to undergo surgery for abdominal and adductor muscle tears, which is the kind of medical update that makes you wince just reading the press release. When healthy, he is a difference-maker, having put up 66 points in 82 games during his first full season in Washington.

Now he gets to return against a Buffalo squad that just dropped back-to-back games to the Philadelphia Flyers and Montreal Canadiens. If you are looking for a soft landing spot to test out a surgically repaired core, facing a Sabres team that is currently allergic to winning is about as good as it gets. It is the NHL equivalent of a rehab assignment against a beer league defense.

The betting markets will have to adjust on the fly with Washington getting a top-six center back on the ice. Buffalo is already reeling, and adding a fresh Dubois to the mix makes the Capitals a much heavier favorite at home.

We will see exactly how much of a leash head coach Spencer Carbery gives his returning center tonight. If Dubois looks anything like his old self, Washington might actually have the firepower to make some noise instead of just treading water.