Watch Sharks' Timo Meier score first NHL hat trick in rout of Flyers

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The eighth time was the charm for Timo Meier.

The young Sharks forward had seven two-goal games in his NHL career entering Saturday, but he'd never scored a hat trick. That changed in San Jose's 6-1 rout of the Philadelphia Flyers at SAP Center, as Meier finally grabbed his first career hatty.

Meier gave the Sharks a 3-0 lead with 10:31 remaining in the second period, when he deflected Brent Burns' point shot past Flyers goaltender Carter Hart. 

The 23-year-old doubled his total 96 seconds into the third period. The Swiss winger skated alongside linemate Evander Kane on a 2-on-1, jumping into the rush after the Flyers turned it over in the Sharks' defensive zone. Kane's placed a pass on Meier's platter, and the fourth-year pro did the rest. 

Kane set up Meier for another tap-in with 7:08 remaining in regulation. Meier helped lead the Sharks out of their own zone in transition, sneaking to Hart's back post after Kane retrieved the puck on Barclay Goodrow's dump-in. 

The hats soon followed. 

Meier played an average of just 12:27 in each of the Sharks' last two losses, sitting for most of the third period in both instances. Interim coach Bob Boughner didn't scratch Meier on Saturday, and it's safe to say the decision paid off.

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Meier matched his season high with six shots on goal -- each of which came at even strength. All six of Meier's shot attempts were on net, and he finished second on the Sharks with five 5-on-5 scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. 

The goals were Meier's first since Dec. 14, and the Sharks will need more if they have any hope of climbing out of the Pacific Divison and Western Conference's cellar into Stanley Cup playoff contention. 

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