SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Flyers' game at San Jose tonight will be a matchup of two of the NHL's best all-around teams.

And based on the season's first seven weeks, it wouldn't be far-fetched to imagine the teams facing each other in the Stanley Cup Finals.

A lot of things have to fall in place, of course, for that to become a reality. Still, tonight is a good measuring stick.

The Flyers, winners of seven of their last eight, entered last night ranked third in the 30-team NHL in goals per game (3.50) and sixth in goals-against per game (2.44). San Jose was fifth in scoring (3.22) and third in goals allowed (2.35).

"Any time you play against one of the best teams in the league, you want to see where you are with them," said defenseman Matt Carle, a former Shark who leads the NHL with a plus-18 rating. "I thought we had that kind of test the other night against New Jersey and we showed up, so hopefully we can do that."

Carle was referring to Monday's impressive 3-2 win over the Devils. He also is aware that the Flyers (12-5-1) dropped a 4-1 decision at home to the Sharks on Oct. 25.

"We've played pretty well since we've seen them, so we want to do more of the same - try to play a puck-possession game and get in our forecheck," Carle said.

The Sharks (14-5-4), who are 9-1-3 in their last 13 games, are a big, fast team with four players among the league's scoring leaders: Joe Thornton (26 points), Patrick Marleau (13 goals, 25 points), Dany Heatley (14 goals, 23 points), and defenseman Dan Boyle (20 points).

San Jose goalie Evgeni Nabokov (2.16 goals-against average, .927 save percentage) has numbers similar to those of the Flyers' Ray Emery (2.22, .923).

In last month's loss, the Flyers outshot the Sharks, 38-28.

"They got some lucky bounces in that game . . . they get the lead and they feel energized, and now they just sit back and play defense," said Flyers coach John Stevens, whose team leads the league in power-play success (27.6 percent). "We didn't get to the net like we needed to. . . . We've been a lot better at it since then."

The Sharks lead the NHL with 32 points.

"I don't know if it's a statement game, but it's an important game," Stevens said.

Boucher shines. After allowing a soft goal and turning the puck over three times on clearing passes in the first period, backup goalie Brian Boucher steadied himself and finished with 37 saves in the Flyers' 3-2 win in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Boucher turned aside 20 of 21 shots in the final period - and watched nervously as Anze Kopitar's shot went through his legs and trickled inches wide of the left post in the waning seconds.

It was just the second start of the season for Boucher.

"Clearly, we're going to need Boosh to win us some games as we move through the schedule in November and December and on throughout the year, so it's great to see him get in and have some success," Stevens said.

James van Riemsdyk's power-play goal gave the Flyers a 3-1 third-period lead and proved to be the winner. Mika Pyorala notched his first NHL goal.

Breakaways. Emery will start tonight, but Stevens would not commit to his goalie for tomorrow in Phoenix. . . . Winger Simon Gagne, who is recovering from abdominal and hernia surgery, has begun skating in Voorhees, and his rehabilitation is on target, Stevens said. The Flyers hope Gagne can return in mid- or late December. . . . Winger Arron Asham, sidelined with a strained muscle on his left side, also has resumed skating.

Contact staff writer Sam Carchidi at 215-854-5181 or scarchidi@phillynews.com.