• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Flyers party like it's '99, finally win in San Jose

Feb 4, 2014 - 6:22 AM San Jose, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Matt Read, Michael Raffl and Claude Giroux all scored in the first four minutes of the third period to help the Philadelphia Flyers take a 5-2 win over the Sharks, their first in San Jose since 1999.

Jakub Voracek provided a late marker, with Mark Streit providing a first- period tally while Steve Mason stopped 20 shots for the Flyers, who went 2-1-0 in a three-game California swing.

Coming into the game, the Flyers hadn't won in San Jose since Nov. 5, 1999 and had gone 0-8-3 with a pair of ties in the overall series since a 4-3 victory at home on Dec. 21, 2000.

"Just the way we played tonight I think we deserved that win," said Giroux. "We were playing well and getting our chances and I think our defense played really well tonight."

Matt Nieto had both goals for the Sharks, who have dropped four of their past five games. Antti Niemi gave up all four goals on 23 shots before being pulled in the third for Alex Stalock, who gave up a goal on five shots the rest of the way.

Trailing by a goal, the Flyers tied the game just 1:11 into the final period as Read's quick shot from the right circle snuck into the net for his 15th of the year.

Just 1:18 later, Erik Gustafsson sent a shot on net from the left point that was stopped, but Raffl was there to put home the rebound in the high slot for a 3-2 lead.

Philly made it a 4-2 game just before the four-minute mark as Giroux skated down the left wing and dragged the puck back before snapping it in through a screen to chase Niemi from the net.

Voracek converted a Giroux pass with 2:16 to play to seal the win.

The Flyers drew first blood as Streit's shot from the high slot went in through a screen set up by Wayne Simmonds in front for a power-play goal at 4:23 of the opening stanza.

The Sharks, though, scored 3:10 later as Tommy Wingels threw the puck on net from a sharp angle at the right side with a charging Nieto tipping it in for a power-play goal.

It was Nieto again to give San Jose a 2-1 lead at intermission, as Brent Burns won a battle in the right boards and slipped a short pass to Nieto, who skated to the left side and snuck it by Mason for his sixth of the year.

The second period passed without a goal as Mason stopped five shots and Niemi turned away seven. Each team failed with their one power-play opportunity.

Game Notes

The Flyers set a franchise record with their 10th win this season when trailing at any point in the third period, eclipsing the original mark of nine by the 1996-97 Eastern Conference champions ... Philly hosts Colorado on Thursday ... San Jose hosts Dallas on Wednesday ... The Flyers have scored a power-play goal in seven straight games and went 1-for-2 in this game ... San Jose was 1-for-5 on the power play.