If the Penguins don't bounce back to win their playoff series against the Flyers, should Dan Bylsma be fired?

The Pittsburgh Penguins got off the mat in a big way tonight with their impressive 10-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers to stave off elimination after falling behind 3-0 in the first round series.

It was a remarkable showing considering how ridiculously awful the team looked in the first three games.

Having said that, however, it is extremely unlikely that the Penguins will make a historical comeback and defeat the Flyers in seven games.

Therefore, assuming they do get eliminated in the first round, should head coach Dan Bylsma get the axe?

As first, that seems pretty ridiculous. After all, Disco Dan came to the rescue in 2009 and led the Penguins out of the wilderness of the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference all the way to the Stanley Cup.

That has to get a guy a free pass or two, right? Yes, but I believe Bylsma already used those free passes the previous two seasons.

Two years ago, the Penguins lost to the Montreal Canadiens in seven games in the second round of the playoffs.

And last season, Pittsburgh blew a 3-1 series lead and lost in the first round to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

This will be the third straight early exit for a team that arguably has the most talented roster in the NHL.

Plus, how many long-tenured hockey coaches can you name? There are two coaches in the NHL who have been with the same team for over a decade. Bylsma is nearing the end of his third full season. It might be time for a change. No, not because I say so, but because that's just how it is.

And let's not forget, Michele Therrien was fired a year after he took the Penguins to the Stanley Cup Finals in '08. The team looked hopelessly out of a playoff spot, and team owner Mario Lemieux thought a change was in order. He was right, obviously since the Penguins finished the year with a victory parade.

The NHL doesn't necessarily treat its coaches with much reverence (not many professional sports leagues do these days), and Disco Dan might soon find out that the honeymoon in Pittsburgh is over, and it's time for a divorce.