SWISS ARMY KNIFE

Every team needs a Swiss Army Knife.
Reliable, versatile and flexible, they can always be counted upon.
Dillon Dube is focused on being just that for the Flames this season, playing in any role the club asks of him.
On Tuesday, the 23-year-old moved back to the middle with Andrew Mangiapane and Brett Ritchie on the wing, as the club experiments with some different looks up front.
The preseason saw the forward shift to centre for a couple of games for the first time in his NHL career, and he looked more than comfortable in that role.
"It doesn't bother me, wherever they need me or want me to go it's an easy switch and an exciting challenge every time," Dube said. "You focus more on the details of the game, there's a lot more responsibility in your own zone to play a full 200-foot game and bring a lot of energy up the middle.
"It's a back-and-forth position, so I worry about my game overall and not focus on the difference between the two, but just in staying focused and sharp."

Through the first two games, Dube and Mangiapane have been a consistent threat for the Flames, creating opportunities and providing energy whenever they hit the ice.
Look no further than on Saturday in Edmonton, as the pair hooked up for the Flames' first goal of the new campaign, all thanks to their relentless pressure and dogged pursuit on the forecheck.

"With Mang on my line, we create good chemistry," Dube said. "He makes it easier for me with his speed up the ice. He's so hard on the puck and is just relentless. He creates so much offence with his work ethic, he holds a lot of pucks in the offensive zone so it's easy to read off of that when a guy is hunting all the time and creating turnovers.
"I hope we can make something out of it. I remember in our first development camp in Penticton, we were roommates, and have been through it all together. We were the guys sent up and down switching for each other, so it's cool to play together now and hopefully we can create something.
"We have another gear that we can give, for sure. We work well together and really good friends, so that helps on the ice."

With the Flames searching for their first win of the young 2021-22 regular season, it's easy to look at that 0-1-1 mark and think that it's been a slow process to get going.
But actually, it's the exact opposite.
Both games against the Oilers and Ducks saw them control the play at different stages and the volume has been there, too, with the Flames out-shooting the opposition 90-60.
At the same time, volume doesn't always equal results.
"We just need to bear down on chances," Dube said. "We had Grade-A looks the other night, but couldn't get them to go. We're getting to the right areas for shots, but it's about capitalizing on them. There are still more chances to get, even high-danger opportunities. Those shots show good possession time, but it's the difference of possession time and high-quality chances.
"It comes down to some net-front plays. There are a lot of pucks up for grabs and 50-50 battles we need to win in getting on those loose pucks. I think we're getting pushed to the outside too much around the net. The defenders are getting the shots through, but we need to get under them and be right there for rebounds.
"That's where a lot of goals are scored."