from Sam Carchidi of the Philadelphia Inquirer,

Craig Berube says his team isn't tired. The Flyers' third-period play recently suggests otherwise.

The long grind that had them play the final 17 regular-season games - many against elite teams - over the last 30 days seems to have caught up with the Flyers. They have been flat and outskated in most third periods lately.

If they don't awaken, they will soon have several months to catch up on their rest.

Berube doesn't buy the theory that the Flyers are fatigued, or that it played a role in their disastrous third period Thursday in New York, where the Rangers pulled away from a 1-1 tie and won the playoff opener, 4-1.

The Flyers should have been energized for the final 20 minutes, knowing they somehow were thisclose to taking the early control of the series. In Madison Square Garden, no less.

continued