The Flyers celebrate after Jake Voracek's game-tying goal in the third period of the Flyers 6-4 win over the New York Islanders. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
Just hours after getting a contract extension, Steve Mason left the ice following the fourth goal allowed by the Philadelphia Flyers. Mason was hardly at fault for the deficit the team was facing.
Craig Berube had to send a message. The Flyers were not playing up to his standards in front of the goalie that bailed them out so much. The New York Islanders were controlling the game.
That led to an energized third period. After replacing Mason, Ray Emery faced just five shots. The Flyers fired 14 on the Islanders net in the final 20 minutes. Three goals helped the Flyers erase the deficit and give them their ninth comeback win of the season, tying a franchise record, in a 6-4 final from Wells Fargo Center on Saturday night.
The Islanders scored first on a defensive lapse by the Flyers. A turnover by Nick Grossmann allowed the Islanders to find John Tavares alone in front. He scored his 22nd goal to put New York in front.
The Flyers would also allow a shorthanded goal to Cal Clutterbuck just over four minutes later.
But Andrej Meszaros helped save the Flyers from a disasterous period. He scored at 14:43 to get the Flyers on the board. With 1:22 remaining in the period, he scored again to tie the game.
Early in the second, the Flyers would take the lead as Adam Hall deflected a shot by Mark Streit past Kevin Poulin.
The Islanders would answer midway through the second as Brock Nelson deflected a shot past Mason. Three minutes later, Brian Strait ended Mason's night.
With renewed energy in the third, the Flyers did everything to score the tying goal. It took seven minutes, but the Flyers finally evened the score with a brilliant pass by Claude Giroux to Jake Voracek who scored his 14th goal of the season.
With 4:15 remaining in regulation, the Flyers took the lead for good. Giroux charged in and attempted a shot that was blocked. But he regained control and dropped a pass back to Michael Raffl who scored to put the Flyers in front.
Matt Read added an empty-net goal with 55 seconds left to seal the win.
The Flyers three-goal, third-period comeback marked the ninth comeback win for the Flyers this season, matching a franchise record. The shorthanded goal allowed by the Flyers was their eighth of the season, tied for most in the NHL. Emery stopped all five shots he faced to get the win.
The Flyers are back in action on Monday afternoon against the Islanders again, this time from Long Island.
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
