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Bennett, the fourth-overall holler in 2015, gets it. He’s not notorious for his patience, either.

This kid hoped to be a star by now, not the Flames’ third-line centre and waiver fodder in some fantasy leagues.

“I don’t think it’s any secret it was a frustrating year for me,” Bennett admitted, not sugar-coating his sophomore slump. “Obviously, every guy wants to have that huge point production and that huge jump. It’s frustrating that I didn’t get that. But I think there are still things I am happy with in my game, whether it’s defensively and just growing that part of my game since the offence wasn’t going.

“There still are some positives, but it was a frustrating year.”

A four-game ouster never counts as a happy ending, but Bennett is heading home on a personal high note.

After a dazzling debut in the 2015 Stanley Cup tournament, the pesky pivot proved again this spring that playoff hockey seems to bring out the best of him.

Only two Flames marksmen managed multiple goals in a spirited but ultimately short series against the Ducks.

Alternate captain Sean Monahan fired home four, becoming the first sniper in NHL history to score in every game for the losing side of a sweep.

Bennett, meanwhile, potted a pair.

During the opener at Honda Center, he snuck by Kevin Bieksa and redirected a spin-o-rama feed from linemate Kris Versteeg from the border of the blue paint.

On a second-period power play in Game 3, he hauled the puck through the neutral zone and beelined toward the crease again, where he was battling for position when Mark Giordano’s boomer from the point glanced off his boot. That staked the Flames to a 4-1 lead, their night would go sideways soon after.