'HIS GAME HAS BEEN AWESOME'

Dillon Dube has had a unique vantage point to start this season.
Sidelined with an injury for three games, he's been able to watch Johnny Gaudreau's impressive start from the bench and up high in the rafters.
His thoughts on what he's seen from his teammate?
"It's been really fun to watch so far," he said Monday morning, before his club takes on the Jets for the first of three games in four days in Winnipeg.

Fun, indeed.
Gaudreau leds the team in scoring with five goals and nine points in seven outings this season. He is the only Flame to collect at least a point in every contest so far.
He's clipping along with a 29.4 shooting percentage, scoring arguably his biggest goal of the young campaign Saturday when he calmly gloved a high pass from Elias Lindholm, set it down and sniped one over the shoulder of Jake Allen to give Calgary an early lead - something they haven't had often this season.

The importance of the powerplay marker can't be over-emphasised, giving the Flames confidence early en route to a 2-0 victory over the Canadiens that snapped a three-game losing streak.
"His game has been awesome," said head coach Geoff Ward. "I think it's two reasons: Number one, I think he's really - and his whole line - has been really dialled in to what he's doing defensively and I think that detail is allowing them to play with the puck more. Secondly, the powerplay has been productive. Between those two things, I think it's allowed him to start at the pace that he's at. We're extremely pleased at the play of the line, and in particular him. He's been great since Day 1."
While goals and points are expected from Gaudreau, it's been his play away from the puck that has directly influenced his offensive production.
"His game has been good, what they're doing in the defensive zone on most nights, and we haven't been disappointed in any of their games," explained Ward. " ... what they're doing in the defensive zone and what they're doing in the neutral zone away from the puck allows them to get pucks back fairly regularly and that allows them to play with the puck more. Better defensive detail has led to more time with the puck for those guys."

The 'they', of course, includes Sean Monahan and the different forwards who have rounded out their line this season. With their games always linked given their connection on the ice, Monahan - not surprisingly - has excelled alongside Gaudreau so far, as he sits with two goals and seven points and is third in team production.
"Our powerplay has been great, obviously," said Gaudreau. "That has a little to do it with, obviously. I still think I've got more in the tank and can push a little harder. Me and Mony feel really comfortable together, playing together, but we have more we can push forward with and try to create some really good things with our line there, Whoever's playing with us, we feel really good about our game right now, but we know we have a little more to give and we're excited to do that."
That powerplay is currently eighth in the NHL, making good at an impressive 29.4%.
"I think our unit, we have five really smart players who can see the ice really well, have great shots, can make great plays," explained Gaudreau of the man-up success. "Obviously, we weren't at our best in Montreal, but found a way to get one an ultimately be a game winner and help us win a game. (Goalie Jacob) Markstrom had a lot to do with that, but those are the important parts of the game - powerplay, penalty kill. We're glad we're succeeding right now and finding ways to help our team win."
While all that combined, Gaudreau's '200-foot game' is doing a heckuva job when it comes to inspiring his teammates.
"I think right now he's playing the right way and he's really stuck to the details of his defensive game," said Dube of No. 13. "He's been really detailed with everything right now and when he has that chance in the offensive zone, you know it's going to go in ...
"I've had the pleasure of being on the bench and watching him a lot, and you take a lot of notes watching him, because he's one of the most offensive guys in the league and right now, he's playing a very complete game.