Claude Giroux scored a goal and added two assists in the Flyers 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night. (Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)
As the second period came to a close, a one-goal deficit didn't seem like a moral victory. But for the Philadelphia Flyers, who had already overcome nine deficits to get wins, this was no unfamiliar territory.
A second-period goal in Anaheim proved to be the downfall for the Flyers in the third. Five nights later in San Jose, the Flyers held the Sharks off the board in the second. That set up a barrage of goals early in the third, as the Flyers scored three goals in 2:45 to grab the lead and never look back.
It would mark the Flyers franchise-record 10th comeback win of the season, as four third-period goals paced the Flyers to a 5-2 win over the San Jose Sharks on Monday night at SAP Center.
The Flyers wasted no time getting on the board. Given an early power play, the Flyers scored as Mark Streit fired a shot through a screen, beating Antti Niemi at 4:23.
The Sharks answered with a power-play goal of their own at 7:33. A centering pass by Tommy Wingels was tipped past Steve Mason by Matt Nieto.
Nieto would add his second of the game and sixth of the season with a nice move in front on a great pass by Brent Burns at 12:32.
That score would hold through the next 31 minutes.
Facing a third-period against the Sharks seemed like an uphill battle, even being down just a goal. The Sharks entered the game with a 20-3-3 record at home and a 26-1-2 record when leading after two periods.
But the Flyers were relentless from the start of the period. A touch of luck tied the game, as Matt Read's shot was tipped past Niemi by Sharks defenseman Matt Irwin at 1:11. Just 1:18 later, Michael Raffl pounced on a rebound off a shot by Erik Gustafsson to give the Flyers the lead. Claude Giroux would add an unassisted goal just 1:27 later.
The three goals in 2:45 gave the Flyers a cushion, and they let defense do the rest. They killed off a pair of penalties midway through the period. With 2:16 remaining, Giroux found Jake Voracek in front for another goal that would ice the game.
Mason stood tall in net after allowing a pair of first-period goals. He stopped 20 shots to get another win.
Giroux posted a three-point night – adding two assists to his goal. Scott Hartnell added two assists, joining Giroux as the only Flyers players with multi-point games. Gustafsson and Luke Schenn were plus-3 on the night, tied for tops on the Flyers.
Niemi was pulled for Alex Stalock after the Flyers fourth goal. The Flyers four third-period goals helped secure the first win against the Sharks since 2000 and first win in San Jose since 1999.
The Flyers return home on Thursday for the final two games before the Olympic break. The first is against the Colorado Avalanche.
Kevin Durso is the lead beat writer for Flyerdelphia. Follow him on twitter @KDursoPhilsNet.
