Dube could be the X-Factor of the playoffs for the Flames

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NASHVILLE — Playoff players are taking notice.

The problem is that Dillon Dube could be jeopardizing his own sleeper status.

With the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs right around the corner, the Calgary Flames’ third-row forward is in for a warm-up.

Perhaps this should not be a surprise. As Flames coach Darryl Sutter has mentioned a couple of times: “If you look at his history, wherever he’s played, Dillon shows up at big times.”

For the past few weeks, the 23-year-old sprinter has been regularly appearing on the record.

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Dube scored twice more in Tuesday’s 5-4 overtime win over the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena and has now splurged eight goals in a span of seven games.

He has added nine goals in April, half of his season total. In the entire league, only seven guys have more markers this month, a list that includes Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews.

“I think I just needed to be a lot better for this team down the stretch, raise my game to get ready for the playoffs and try to get to that spot,” Dube said after scoring two in Saturday’s home win over Vancouver. Canucks. “I think I needed to be a lot better, so I’ve been doing better lately.”

Johnny Gaudreau, Elias Lindholm and Matthew Tkachuk are the undisputed offensive catalysts for the Flames, but everyone knows the secondary scoring is an essential ingredient for any extended playoff run and Dube has the makings of a potential X-factor for the pennant. Pacific Division. -winners.

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He has the speed and sandpaper to create havoc up front.

He has the ability to finish off his chances.

He’s currently brimming with confidence and clicking with fellow laners Calle Jarnkrok and Blake Coleman, two guys who play with similar determination. Collectively, they could be more than a mild annoyance to opponents in a best-of-seven series.

It’s a plus that Dube can grow a playoff beard in roughly the same amount of time it takes to cook a pot roast. Remember, too, that he was among the standouts in the Flames’ most recent postseason appearance, scoring four goals during a 10-game stay in the bubble in 2020.

Only Sam Bennett tickled Calgarians more during those summer matchups. (Dube was tied for second on the team lists with Gaudreau and Mikael Backlund.)

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“I think it was important for me to take that step,” said Dube, who has amassed a good chunk of big-game experience from two junior world tournaments, including a golden moment as Captain Canada, and three consecutive trips to the conference. final or beyond with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League. “But obviously it was very different in the way it happened: having a lot of months off and coming back and playing in the bubble. It was very different, and it is also in the past. You can’t expect to be a good playoff player just because I had a couple of good games. And at the same time, we didn’t get where we wanted to, so obviously I didn’t feel like I performed well enough.

“In the playoffs, you have to get out of your comfort zone. You could say that I played well because I was scoring goals. But if I’m not scoring, I need to play well without the puck and just play like I’ve built these 82 games.”

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Sutter certainly seems pleased with the way No. 29 is trending. He has offered plenty of praise of late, including this tidbit from Saturday’s postgame press: “He’s his own worst critic and he listens. I’m fine with that.

Dube, the youngest regular on the Flames’ roster, has clearly been paying attention to recent moans and complaints from the boss that there’s too much focus on individual performance.

Despite his April outburst, he’s been deftly handling questions about his personal game, about whether he’s showing up at the perfect time.

“It’s about getting our best hockey and the best team we can be heading into the playoffs,” Dube said. “Because yes, it was a big goal to make the playoffs. But if you’re not playing good hockey right now, it’s a waste of a lot of hockey earlier if you’re not ready. So I think it’s very important that our group is at our best level.”

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