I think it is unfair to blame Fleury entirely for his poor play. First, he played way too many games during the season and the addition of Vokoun should take care of that problem (barring injury). Statistically, any team whose netminder plays more than 60 games is going to have trouble. Obviously that is a statistic and not a fact (see Jonathon Quick). And second, some high priced defensive talent often left Fleury alone on a little blue island.

Lastly, it seemed clear that the Flyers just wanted the puck and the series more.

After watching Philly swamp our Penguins, I thought for sure they were on a fast track to a Stanley Cup. So I truly was amazed at how ordinary the Flyers looked against Jersey. Their power play—which had reduced the Pens’ penalty killers to a pile of rubble—was especially feeble. Half the time they couldn’t even get set up.

My guess is the Flyers were burned out after an extremely emotional series against the Pens. I think their collective inexperience showed, too, with a little help from the decidedly pedestrian Bryzgalov. But basically, Jersey just got in their faces and manned up as you suggested, something the Pens obviously failed to do.

It sure doesn’t cast Bylsma and our coaching staff in a very good light, does it? Even if you give them a pass for last year’s Sid- and Geno-less first round loss to Tampa Bay, this marks the second time in three years that they were utterly unable to make meaningful adjustments come playoff time.

I also have to wonder if there are underlying character/leadership issues with this team that surface under duress. Going back to the six-game losing streak over the holidays, Brooks Orpik said, “We give up a couple of goals, and everybody’s attitude [stinks] afterward. You can see on the ice, our energy starts out great, then they score a couple of goals and instead of getting [angry] and battling back, we just come out flatter and kind of feel sorry for ourselves, hang our heads.”

Sure seems to fit the way they played against Philly, especially in Game 6 …