SAN JOSE, Calif. _ It was the wakeup call that Timo Meier probably needed.
And his response Saturday was just what the San Jose Sharks wanted.
A day after he sat for long stretches of the third period, Timo Meier registered his first career NHL hat trick as the Sharks topped the Philadelphia Flyers 6-1 to snap a four-game losing streak.
Meier scored his first goal at the 9:21 mark of the second period, then added third period goals at the 1:36 and 12:52 marks as the Sharks closed out a seven-game homestand with a 2-4-1 record.
Meier's efforts overshadowed those of Mario Ferraro and Joel Kellman, who both scored their first NHL goals to give the Sharks a 2-0 lead by the 2:39 mark of the second period.
Patrick Marleau also scored, Barclay Goodrow had three assists and goalie Martin Jones, making his second start in the last six Sharks games, finished with 26 saves to help snap a personal six-game losing streak.
Jones' last win came Nov. 30 when he made 21 saves to help the Sharks beat the Arizona Coyotes 4-2. Since then, the Sharks had gone 1-8-2 before Saturday to fall into 15th and last place in the Western Conference.
One of those losses came Friday, when the Sharks coughed up a two-goal lead in the third period before losing 3-2 to the Los Angeles Kings in overtime.
After the game, Boughner left open the possibility that he would scratch a few forwards. He didn't mention anyone by name, but it was clear one of the players he was referring to was Meier, who didn't have a shot on goal against the Kings as he and Kevin Labanc sat for long stretches of the third period.
"He's got to take ownership of that as well," Boughner said of Meier before Saturday's game. "He's got to do his part and play a little more of a north-south game. He's got to be harder to play against and be heavy on pucks and that's what's missing from him right now. It's too much one and done."
The Sharks begin a five-game road trip Tuesday in Detroit. That's followed by games in Pittsburgh, Columbus, Washington and St. Louis.
