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Newsflash: Flames’ Dillon Dube Is Pretty Good

Dillon Dube has been on fire for the Calgary Flames lately, scoring six goals and 15 points in the last 16 games.

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When you start to Google Calgary Flames winger Dillon Dube’s name and the list of popular ways people search for him pops up, one of the top ones is this: ‘Is Dillon Dube any good?’

For years it has been a fair question.

The 24-year-old forward probably graduated from the American Hockey League a little early. Expectations since then have largely exceeded his results.

A strong finish last season saw him fall just two goals shy of the 20 marker. And after scoring in the season opener against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in October, and racking up four points in his first six games, it seemed like this would be the year that Google query could be answered in the unquestioned affirmative.

Then there was that gargantuan 11-game drought. Not goal drought. Point drought. 

There was some line shuffling that might have played a role. Dube started the year on Nazem Kadri’s flank, with Andrew Mangiapane on the other wing. It was the team’s best trio to start the campaign before Calgary Flames head coach Darryl Sutter tinkered looking for more chemistry elsewhere. 

Their reunion later in the year sparked signs of a re-emergence. And, suddenly, pure fire from the speedy Dube. 

He scored in both wins in back-to-back games in San Jose on Sunday and Tuesday, bringing his recent totals to six goals and 15 points in his last 16 games over the past month. 

His pro-rated totals in that span project to 30 goals and 77 points. A bargain for the $2.3-million cap hit this season. 

He’s been everything everyone had been hoping for, and has been rewarded with a promotion to the top line alongside Elias Lindholm and Tyler Toffoli. And that has allowed Kadri and Jonathan Huberdeau to find some chemistry on a second line. Mangiapane with Blake Coleman and Mikael Backlund is also a deadly 'third' trio to roll. 

Dube and Toffoli made Calgary Flames history together with the two fastest goals to start a game in the 7-3 win over the Sharks on Tuesday. Toffoli scored 15 seconds in. Dube made it a 2-0 lead by the 30-second mark. With Dube’s forechecking and speed, Toffoli’s finishing skills and Lindholm’s masterful 200-foot manipulation, this trio sure looks like one that can carry the play. 

Both those goals, by the way, came because of faceoff wins by Lindholm, which Sutter pointed out in his post-game presser.

“Wish we stayed out there a couple more minutes, I guess,” Dube said when asked about what the guys were thinking after that record start. “Those goals opened up because all five of us connected on the forecheck. It worked out really well.”

Dube says it’s easy to play alongside two veteran snipers who don’t cheat for their offensive production. 

“They’re really good players; they see the ice so well. I’m just trying to fit in. I think (I’m) still trying to get used to where they are and make the right play,” he said. “I just want to play the right way with them and get them the pucks. Work hard and forecheck to get them the puck. They’re special players so it’s a lot of fun playing with them.”

Dube doesn’t see himself in that special category. He’s not a swagger guy, and that might be part of the reason he’s struggled to find consistency in his game over the past four years. But parts of his game are special. He has burning speed and a tenacious forecheck. And there’s plenty of finishing power, too, as he showed with his goals in San Jose. 

“I don’t know. Just the way they play, to be honest. You fill in that spot, just keep it simple,” he said. 

“For me, I don’t need to be another player like that. Play simple, play the right way and help them out any way I can.”