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 Turns out, his timing was brilliant.
The Flames defenseman posted the game-winner Monday in a 5-2 victory
over the Winnipeg Jets at the Scotiabank Saddledome, scoring a
power-play goal on a slap shot from the point at 4:24 of the third
period.
"It's real nice to get the first goal," said Diaz, who hadn't scored
in 28 previous outings for the Flames.
Not just the first goal, the decisive goal in a game against another
playoff contender in the Western Conference.
"Even nicer," Diaz said with a smile.
Wingers David Jones, Mason Raymond and Brandon Bollig and center
Sean Monahan also found the back of the net for the Flames, who won
for the seventh time in nine games. Bollig's insurance goal was also
his first for Calgary (28-20-3).
Center Joe Colborne added two assists for the home team, while
netminder Jonas Hiller wasn't especially busy but was sharp in a
17-save performance.
"I thought that we skated well. We showed great discipline. We
played hard," Flames coach Bob Hartley said. "Hills gave us some big
saves at the right time, and we scored some timely goals. Whenever
every department plays a good game, it's pretty tough to lose."
Center Bryan Little had a goal and an assist for the Jets, and right
winger Blake Wheeler also lit the lamp. Winnipeg (26-18-8) lost its
fourth in a row and is now just one point ahead of the Flames.
"We have to bear down more. Every guy, including myself, has to step
it up a little bit more and focus a little bit more," said Jets
goalie Michael Hutchinson, who was yanked after allowing four goals
on 23 shots. "For myself, I have to make that extra save, and for
the players, they have to try and hit the net and bear down when you
do get those scoring chances."
Both squads capitalized on their early opportunities.
Wheeler scored with Winnipeg's first shot on net, accepting a feed
from Little in open ice and zipping a low shot past Hiller only 1:09
after the opening faceoff.
The Flames' first attempt also crossed the goal line, with
Hutchinson getting just a piece of Jones' backhand on a breakaway.
Calgary defenseman Mark Giordano, appearing in his 500th NHL game,
made a terrific pass to send Jones off to the races.
Raymond had the lone strike in the middle period. The speedy winger
scooped up a loose puck in the neutral zone and finished the job
with a snap shot over Hutchinson's blocker at 1:59, giving Calgary a
2-1 lead.
With Jets center Mathieu Perreault serving a tripping penalty, Diaz
provided a key goal for the Flames with his power-play blast. Bollig
took advantage of a great pass by Colborne on a two-on-one about
three minutes later to put the hosts ahead 4-1.
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Little's backhander at 8:43 of the third gave the Jets a glimmer of
hope at 4-2, but Calgary's unlikely scorers were the difference.
"I'm so proud, so glad for Brandon Bollig and Raphi Diaz," Hartley
said. "They're two guys that they have lots of friends in the locker
room because they're great workers. They take care of their
teammates. They're easy guys to work with, and both, in an important
game, they come up with each their first goal. I can tell you that
players were really happy on the bench."
Bollig, a fourth-line left winger who was acquired in an offseason
trade from the Chicago Blackhawks, had gone 42 straight games
without scoring.
"I would say relief is a big word," Bollig said. "Coming here, I
kind of wanted to make them look good for trading for me, so it was
not ideal to wait that long to put one in. It's nice it finally
came. That was a big win for us, and I don't think it would have
meant as much if we didn't get two points."
Monahan added a late empty-netter to round out the scoring.
Ondrej Pavelec, who replaced Hutchinson, saved all four shots he
faced.
The Jets are back in action Tuesday, when they visit the Vancouver
Canucks. The Flames continue a six-game homestand Wednesday against
the San Jose Sharks.
NOTES: The Flames recalled C Markus Granlund, but he didn't dress
against the Jets, with LW Sven Baertschi instead subbing for C
Mikael Backlund (illness). Calgary LW David Wolf, who sustained a
leg laceration Saturday in his first NHL contest, was moved to
injured reserve. LW Curtis Glencross (lower body) and D Ladislav
Smid (upper body) also are on Calgary's injured list. ... Jets D Jay
Harrison missed the game due to an upper-body injury. He is
considered day-to-day. Winnipeg D Grant Clitsome (upper body) and RW
Matt Halischuk (lower body) are also out. ... Flames C Sam Bennett,
the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft, participated in Monday's
morning skate. The 18-year-old had shoulder surgery in October. It
is unknown if he will get an opportunity to make his NHL debut once
he is cleared for game action or if he will be returned to his
junior club.
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