Philadelphia Flyers' Jakub Voracek, left, of Czech Republic, and Wayne Simmonds celebrate Voracek's empty-net goal during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Minnesota Wild on Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. The Flyers won 3-1. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Matt Read scored the tiebreaking goal in the second period, Steve Mason stopped 24 shots and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Minnesota Wild 3-1 Thursday night.
Sean Couturier and Jakub Voracek also scored for the Flyers, who won for the third time in their last eight games (3-5-0).
Zach Parise scored for Minnesota and Devin Dubnyk stopped 24 shots for the Wild, who have lost six of their last seven.
Both teams generated a flurry of scoring chances early, but the Wild struck first on a seemingly harmless play.
Gustav Olofsson's outlet pass from his own blue line was tipped in the neutral zone and the puck skittered toward the Flyers net. Mason bobbled it and Eric Staal poked it free before Mason could recover, and Parise pounced immediately, burying his 17th of the season just 2:07 into the game.
The Flyers tied it with 2:01 left in the first on Couturier's 12th goal of the season. Couturier initially fanned on Brayden Schenn's centering pass, but he got a second chance and pushed a backhander that slipped between Dubnyk's legs.
Philadelphia broke the tie just 21 seconds into the second period, taking advantage of some sloppy play by the Wild in their own zone. Read jumped on a loose puck in front of the Minnesota net and fired it past Dubnyk for his 10th of the year and second in two games.
Voracek's empty netter in the final minute sealed it for the Flyers.
NOTES: Wild F Ryan White was scratched due to the flu. ... Flyers D Brandon Manning was back on the ice after missing five games with an injured shoulder. ... Minnesota signed former University of Wisconsin forward Luke Kunin, its first pick in the 2016 draft, to a three-year contract on Thursday. Kunin, captain of the US team that won a gold medal at this year's World Junior Championship, was assigned to Iowa of the AHL.
UP NEXT
Flyers: At Columbus on Saturday.
Wild: Host Vancouver on Saturday.
Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason, right, deflects a shot by Minnesota Wild's Mikael Granlund during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk, left, stops a shot by Philadelphia Flyers' Claude Giroux during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
Minnesota Wild's Jared Spurgeon, center, gets squeezed between Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason, left, and Flyers' Andrew MacDonald during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. The Flyers won 3-1. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds, left, jumps clear of a shot as Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk stops it during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. The Flyers won 3-1. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
Philadelphia Flyers' Sean Couturier, right, tries to maneuver between Minnesota Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk and the boards during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
Minnesota Wild's Gustav Olofsson, left, of Sweden, races for the puck with Philadelphia Flyers' Wayne Simmonds during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press
Minnesota Wild's Zach Parise, left, scores a goal on Philadelphia Flyers goalie Steve Mason, past Flyers defender Brandon Manning, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 23, 2017, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
The Associated Press