Flyers erupt for 7-4 victory in Toronto

TORONTO - The Flyers started an eight-game road trip with an inspiring comeback and their best offensive performance of the season Saturday night.

Claude Giroux had two goals and a pair of assists, Jake Voracek dealt four assists and took over the NHL scoring lead, and the Flyers overcame an early 2-0 deficit and defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs, 7-4, at the Air Canada Centre.

"It was fun because we were playing the right way the whole game, and we played 60 minutes," said Giroux, whose team had a 42-25 advantage in shots.

The Flyers had scored a total of two goals in their previous two games - home losses to Tampa Bay and Florida.

Voracek has an NHL-best 42 points, and he is on pace to collect a stunning 108. The winger's career high is 62.

"He can play better," Giroux cracked, drawing laughs.

Added Giroux, who is now tied for second in the NHL with 39 points: "He's on the puck and winning a lot of battles. For a guy like me playing with him, it makes my job a lot easier."

Giroux made it 5-3 by finishing off a slick give-and-go with Voracek with 3 minutes, 57 seconds left in the second period. Voracek, near the right-wing boards, threaded a long pass to Giroux in front, and the diminutive center waited for a split second and then lifted it over goalie Jonathan Bernier.

About 12 minutes before Giroux's goal, the Flyers got an early Christmas present.

A gift goal, scored by defenseman Nick Grossmann, gave the Flyers a 4-3 lead with 16:08 remaining in the second. Grossmann's shot caromed off the back boards and off Bernier and into the net.

Scott Laughton, who grew up near Toronto and had lots of relatives and friends at the game, and Michael Raffl scored third-period goals to make it 7-3.

For a while, it was ex-Flyers 2 (Joffrey Lupul, James van Riemsdyk), Flyers 0.

And then the craziness began. The Flyers scored three goals in a 3:30 span, around a David Clarkson tally, and it was 3-3 with 8:16 to play in a defense-free first period.

R.J. Umberger, in his most inspired period of the season (four shots) scored on a rebound to cut the deficit to 2-1.

"We took the puck over in the neutral zone, something I think we can do against their top line," Umberger said. ". . . Chief [coach Craig Berube] has been stressing shots, shots, shots - and the rebound was there for me."

And then the teams combined for three goals in a stunning 26-second sequence, a franchise record for both.

Blink, you missed a goal. Go to the fridge to get a snack, you missed all three.

Sean Couturier scored on a one-timer after a deft behind-the-net pass from Matt Read, tying it at 2-2 with 8:42 left in the first. Fifteen seconds later, Clarkson answered, beating goalie Ray Emery to the glove side with a drive from the top of the left circle. Eleven seconds after that, Giroux tipped Voracek's shot past Bernier, knotting the score at 3.

"We didn't panic after we were down, 2-0," said Voracek, who called it the team's best game of the season.

Zac Rinaldo suffered an unspecified lower-body injury late in the first period and did not return to the game. . . . Flyers prospect Sam Morin was one of 22 players named to Canada's team that will compete in IIHF World Junior Championships, which will be held from Friday to Jan. 5.