Pierre Luc Dubois of Sainte-Agathe-Des-Monts, Quebec recorded his first career National Hockey League playoff career hat trick on Thursday. Dubois achieved the mark in a 4-3 Columbus Blue Jackets overtime win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. With the win, the Blue Jackets now lead the Eastern Conference Stanley Cup Playoff Qualifier from Toronto two games to one.
The Blue Jackets were at one time trailing 3-0 midway through the second period. Then Columbus head coach John Tortorella made a goaltending change. He pulled Joonas Korpisalo and put in Elvis Merzlikins, who was excellent, as he made 21 saves on 21 shot attempts.
Dubois initially put Columbus on the scoreboard at 11:39 of the second period from Zach Werenski and Cam Atkinson. After Seth Jones pulled Columbus within one goal at 3-2 with an unassisted marker at 7:27 of the third period, Dubois tied the game at three goals apiece at 10:49 of the third period from David Savard of St-Hyacinthe, Quebec, and Atkinson. Dubois then scored the overtime winner on a breakaway from Alexandre Texier with 1:26 left in overtime.
Columbus can eliminate Toronto with a game four win on Friday. If Toronto wins, they will go to a fifth and deciding game to determine the series champion on Sunday.
Dubois scored his first three goals of the series on Thursday. His first career hat trick came on March 29, 2018 in a 5-1 Columbus win over the Calgary Flames.