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PHI VS NJJagr, defence among Flyers' offseason question marks

By Stanley Cup 2012

Posted: Wednesday, May 9, 2012 | 02:35 PM

Categories: New Jersey Devils, PHI VS NJ, Philadelphia Flyers

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Jaromir Jagr was noncommittal about his future, while Flyers forward Scott Hartnell, left, lamented Philadelphia's inability to cope with New Jersey's speed. (Tom Mihalek/Associated Press) Jaromir Jagr was noncommittal about his future, while Flyers forward Scott Hartnell, left, lamented Philadelphia's inability to cope with New Jersey's speed. (Tom Mihalek/Associated Press)

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The consensus among the Philadelphia Flyers was that they were beaten by a quicker team that had more resolve than they did, for whatever reason. Meanwhile, Jaromir Jagr hasn't made a decision on his playing future.
By Tim Panaccio,
 
The Philadelphia Flyers won't hold break-up day until Friday while general manager Paul Holmgren will meet with the media on Friday.

The consensus among the Flyers players was they were beaten by a quicker team that had more resolve than they did for whatever reason.

"They were stingy," Scott Hartnell said. "They were tight. You had to fight for every inch of ice that you got. When you had some time and space in the offensive zone, it seemed like they closed pretty fast.

"You had to make plays fast and it seemed like they were a step forward the whole series."

To a man, the players said they had not seen a defence on their forecheck like that in quite a while. The Devils put four players down low on the Flyers.

"They played a lot like the Rangers," according to Hartnell. "We got the puck in the corner on a soft chip and it seemed like they had four guys on you in the corner. It is probably one of the biggest reasons why we couldn't beat the Rangers this year.

"They just smothered you, three or four guys on you in the zone. It was tough to make plays when your back is against the wall or out in the ice. It is definitely frustrating, but we did have chances."

What's next? For Jaromir Jagr, who said he would like to re-sign as a Flyer. Jagr looked dead tired the final month of the regular season and all through the playoffs. He couldn't skate.

"I don't know what's going to happen," he said. "It doesn't matter what's going to happen. I have say, thanks for the support from the fans. I love everybody on this team. That was probably my most enjoyable year I ever had.

"I win some Cups, I win some trophies, but I love this year. From the organization to the last player on the team and the fans, they were so nice to me.

"I hate to finish it right now. That's the worst feeling. You finish the whole story, the whole year, that's a sad day for me."

They go on. The Devils now play wait and see.

Do they get the Rangers or the Capitals?

For goalie Marty Brodeur, it's been almost a decade since he last played in a conference final.

"Wow, it seems forever for a lot of guys but, for me it is nine years," Brodeur said. "It's tough to do that. I think we're fortunate to have made it there so far and were looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, Devils coach Pete DeBoer was happy with the fact he got goals in the series from guys who were not expected to score - like Petr Sykora and Bryce Salvador.

"Yeah I think the fact that we've had four lines, six defenceman, we've gotten winning goals from seven or eight different people through the playoffs," DeBoer said. "Our team game is what is making us successful not any individuals.

"The guys are believing in what we're doing and we've got a lot of work left to do. That's a very good team we just beat and happy to get through."

DeBoer also said he was very proud of how his players handled their discipline on the ice, refusing to take penalties and get suckered into scrums and fights which is what hurt Pittsburgh against the Flyers in the quarterfinals.

"I'm really proud of our group," DeBoer said. "Proud of how we stuck to the game plan. Proud of how we turned the other cheek. Proud of how hard we competed against a very hardworking and competitive team. It gets tougher from there."

The hit. Devils general manager Lou Lamoriello said on Wednesday afternoon that defenceman Marek Zidlicky remained day-to-day with an upper body injury and should be available for the conference final.

Zidlicky was crushed hard in the corner by Flyers forward Wayne Simmonds near the midpoint of the second period and may have suffered a concussion.
 
Tim Panaccio writes for CSNPhilly.com and is on Twitter @tpanotchCSN.

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