PHILADELPHIA — The difference between the Penguins and the Flyers is pedigree and resiliency.
A little more than midway through the second period in the Pittsburgh's 8-5 series-clinching Game 6 victory Sunday at the Wells Fargo Center, the Flyers took a 4-2 lead and the Philly faithful was really into it, thinking there could be a Game 7 on Tuesday night in Pittsburgh.
But the Pens, unlike the younger Flyers, didn't get deflated when they fell behind. Pittsburgh scored five goals in a row — one by winger Patric Hornqvist, who returned after missing two games due to an upper-body injury, and four straight by winger Jake Guentzel.
That was in stark contrast to Game 3, when the Flyers had four really good chances on Pittsburgh goalie Matt Murray in the opening 14 minutes, only to fall behind 2-0 on a Phil Kessel goal shortly thereafter. Instead of responding, the Flyers wilted.
"The difference in the series was momentum swings," said Philly winger Scott Laughton. "We've got to handle them better."
Asked how things fell apart, Flyers captain Claude Giroux replied, "I'm not too sure. It happened quick. It looked like we were in control of the game and they got two quick goals there."
"You make a couple mistakes and they got a lot of firepower on that team," said winger Wayne Simmonds. "You make one, two, three mistakes and usually they end up in the back of your net. I guess that’s why they’re the two-time defending champions."
Afterward, Sidney Crosby admitted his team "kind of got on our knees a little bit at different times, (but) we kept coming back."
A giveaway by second-year defenseman Ivan Provorov resulted in a Kessel steal and Guentzel's second goal 30 seconds into the third period, putting Pittsburgh ahead for good.
The Penguins essentially took top Flyers forwards Claude Giroux (one goal, two assists), Jake Voracek (no goals, three assists) and Simmonds (no goals, two assists) out of the series. The Flyers needed more from those veterans and didn't get it.
"Not good enough," was how Giroux described his performance. "Got to find a way. When you play against the best players on the other side, got to step up your game and play better. Only word I can say is it’s frustrating."
Crosby had a goal and two assists Sunday, giving him six and seven for 13 points in the six games.
Guentzel had quietly accumulated two goals and six assists going into Game 6, when he broke out with four goals and an assist on Hornqvist's score. His six goals and seven assists tie him with terrific line mate Crosby.
Asked where this game ranked for him, Guentzel replied, "Straight to the top."
Considering the Penguins, who advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs against the winner of the Capitals-Blue Jackets series, were without second-line center Evgeni Malkin (left knee), Guentzel's monster showing in a closeout game was especially significant.
"He did such a great job last year in the playoffs, but he’s raised his game to another level and it’s more than just scoring," Crosby said. "He’s making plays, he’s hard on pucks and he’s doing a lot of little things, too, so it’s great to see him get rewarded."
It was a strange series in that the home team lost five straight in a Penguins series for the first time in team history. It had only happened once before with the Flyers (the other was the first five games of the 1995 conference finals, a 4-2 loss to the Devils). Both franchises are in their 51st seasons.
The Pens scored 18 goals in the three road games, had the better goalie in Matt Murray, more experience and more talent. That should serve them well going forward.
"Things are never going to always go your way, especially in the playoffs," Murray said. "You have to fight it a little bit. It wasn’t a perfect game by any means — not even close — but we got job done."
Tom Moore is a sports columnist for the Bucks County Courier Times. Follow him on Twitter @TomMoorePhilly