This hasn't been an easy Stanley Cup finals for goalies.

The wide-open play has led to 40 goals, most through the first five games of the finals since the Islanders and North Stars combined for 42 in 1981 and most in a finals series of any length since the Rangers and Canucks had 40 in seven games in 1994.

"I don't think we envisioned scoring at the rate we're scoring at," said Hawks coach Joel Quenneville, whose team has 21 goals to 19 for the Flyers.

While Quenneville has stuck with Antti Niemi despite the occasional soft goal, Flyers coach Peter Laviolette has yanked starter Michael Leighton in Games 1 and 5.

It is the first time a goalie has been pulled twice in the finals since North Stars coach Bob Gainey did it to Jon Casey during the last two games in 1991.

Now the question is whether Leighton or Brian Boucher will open Game 6 on Wednesday in Philadelphia.

Laviolette said Monday morning he has made up his mind but does not comment on lineups. Because the Flyers had the day off, the coach said he had not yet told the goalies of his decision.

Asked Monday if he thinks most about the team or the goaltender in a situation like this, Laviolette said: "Both. Whatever is best for the team and whatever is going to give us the best chance to win one hockey game."

Hawks forward Patrick Sharp, tied with Dustin Byfuglien for the team's playoff goal lead with 10, said after Sunday's 7-4 victory in Game 5 he expected Leighton would rebound from being replaced after giving up three goals in the first period.

"You saw what he did after Game 1," Sharp said of Leighton. "He's been great all series.

"(But) it doesn't really matter who's in the net."

Like Casey, who had the best goals-against average of any goalie in the 1991 playoffs until the last three games of the finals, Leighton had been playing extremely well since becoming the starter when Boucher was injured during the second period of Game 5 in the second-round series against the Bruins.

phersh@tribune.com