Dube steals spotlight despite loss to Oilers
Flames hopeful notches hat trick in front of sparse crowd, writes Kristen Anderson.
If a hat-trick happens and no hats rain down from the rafters, did the hat-trick really happen? In Dillon Dube’s case, yes. National Hockey League preseason is always approached with tempered excitement, but there is plenty to like about the 20-year-old Calgary Flames hopeful who was — once again — one of the best players on the ice.
Dube netted a fine hat-trick which helped temporarily give the Flames a 3-2 lead over the Oilers in the second period of Monday’s friendly, the team’s first on North American soil. Despite the attention surrounding the former Kelowna Rockets centre, which is growing daily here in Calgary, there was a sparse crowd at the Scotiabank Saddledome which meant there were less than a dozen baseball hats littering the ice.
“My dad probably didn’t even leave his seat,” Dube said with a chuckle. “He doesn’t get too excited. But it was a good confidence booster … that’s what kind of the NHL is, to play night in and night out and have that confidence and know you can play there.
“There’s a team over there in China with a lot of regulars. For me, I have to do some good things to stand out here. Every single day I come to the rink and want to be an NHLer.”
Dube, who is turning professional this season after a fine Western Hockey League career, is vying for a spot among the Flames’ forwards.
With the majority of the team in China, he is getting a pile of ice time — and getting better each outing.
“The steady progress, consistency, is something we all have to understand,” said Stockton Heat skipper Cail MacLean. “A week ago, he was playing his first game in a long time (Sunday). Suddenly, he’s playing a stronger game (on Wednesday), which was to be expected. Now you get bigger, stronger, faster competition and he’s continuing to improve.
“That’s a positive sign, to see him continue to excel as the competition ramps up around him.”
The Flames ended up losing this one 7-4. Their next tune-up is on Wednesday at Vancouver before another road clash Friday at Winnipeg.
They’ll return to the Scotiabank Saddledome on Saturday to host the Canucks.
SHAKING OFF THE RUST
Evan Bouchard scored for the Oilers in the first period along with a short-handed goal from Kailer Yamamoto, who chipped ahead an errant pass from Spencer Foo that was meant for pointman Oliver Kylington and scored on a breakaway.
Ethan Bear connected on the power play late in the second period while Yamamoto scored again on a breakaway in the third period. Patrick Russell netted a pair including one into an empty net, and Pontus Aberg rounded out the scoring in the final three minutes of the game.
Buddy Robinson, who inked a two-year, two-way deal with the Flames during this summer’s free agency period, nabbed a pair of assists on Dube’s goals while Andrew Mangiapane scored the Flames’ fourth goal with 1:01 remaining.
Flames netminder David Rittich, who is vying to be Mike Smith’s backup this season, was shaky early on in Monday’s game but settled down considerably as the game progressed.
He allowed six goals on 27 shots, going the distance for Calgary.
The Flames mustered 25 shots on the night.
FIGHT NIGHT
Continuing in Battle of Alberta tradition, there were four separate taffy-pulls on Monday, starting with Flames winger Scott Sabourin and Oilers hopeful Evan Polei, both lefties, in the first period.
Next up was Brad Malone and Justin Falk after Malone took exception to a check Falk delivered on Polei behind Calgary’s net.
In the second period, William Lagesson and Calgary you-knowwhat disturber Ryan Lomberg traded blows. Shortly after, Flames hopeful and professional tryout player Logan Shaw got into it with Kevin Gravel.