'KEEPING IT SIMPLE'

WASHINGTON - Yes, Dillon Dube is happy to have scored in back-to-back games.
Who wouldn't be?
And while tallying his second and third goals of the season was welcome, the fact they helped the Flames grab three of four points in a victory over the Flyers and a shootout loss to the Pens is what really matters to him.

"It's not so much the scoresheet that I'm worried about, it was just how I was playing, to be honest, to start the year," said Dube Friday, following the team's practice at Capital One Arena in Washington. "I wasn't too happy with it, I couldn't really figure out my game and try and pick up where I left off last year.
"I feel like I've kept it simple the last four or five games, that's just what I'm good at - keeping it simple, playing the right way. So just try to keep doing that and that's what gives you confidence.
"If the goals go in, they help the team win. But there's a lot more that goes into that full 60-minute performance that I need to bring every night. That's way more important."
So what exactly does keeping it simple mean to him?
"It's skating hard, holding onto the puck, not forcing plays, making the right play, getting my head up and being ready for my linemates," he explained. "It's just having that attack, straight-line ahead kind of thing.
"I think the big plays open up when you play that simple game."
The Flames finish off their six-game road trip with back-to-back matinees against the Capitals Friday (noon MT start) and the Hurricanes Saturday (2 p.m. MT start).
So far, they have gone 2-1-1 and - it goes without saying - would like to put another four points in the bag before they return home to the Scotiabank Saddledome after 12 days Stateside.
A big key to that will be the play of Dube, along with linemates Nazem Kadri and Andrew Mangiapane. The trio have been excellent on this trip, their dominance on full display in the second period against the Pens Wednesday night, when they cycled the puck, played keepaway and created chances everytime they were on the ice, including Dube's goal.

"Yeah, it's been really good," said Dube. "When you play with guys like that can skate that well, it helps. I think we're a really effective line when we're able to pass around players. Quick, quick puck touches - almost like in the o-zone, the less time you have it on your stick, the better because you're passing it around, moving and trying to find stuff.
"I think in the second period, we had a lot of success with those quick plays and attacking like that. So we need to keep building on that. And I still think we need to be better for sure."
Because as with his own game, he feels consistency and focus will be the key to the line's success to wrap up this trip and throughout the season.
"Instead of a one-off shift, it's two, three, four or five in a row that are really good shifts, which I know the game is back and forth, but even to have that constant pressure and create momentum for the line that's up after us, I think that's the important thing," he said. "We need to get to that and get that full 60 minutes, and I know we harp on that all the time, but it's so important.
"Especially a game like last night - how tight it is. You need to be on every shift and build it for the guys coming out after you."
Kadri had praise for Dube's play and the same goals for what their line can bring to the table.
"He's a guy that has speed, he's got a great shot, he can skate," said Kadri. "He's been relentless on pucks and forcing some turnovers and as a line, I think, you know, we've been all over it. So we're looking to continue that."