Stanley Cup Playoffs
Pens earn a return trip to the Finals
RALEIGH, N.C. - Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins are headed back to the Stanley Cup Finals.
Max Talbot had a goal and an assist to help the Penguins beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 4-1, last night and finish off a sweep in the Eastern Conference finals. Pittsburgh lost to Detroit last year in a six-game final series.
If the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings beat Chicago in the Western finals, it will set up the first title rematch since the Edmonton Oilers and the New York Islanders met in 1983 and 1984.
Pittsburgh is the first team since the 2000-01 New Jersey Devils to get to the Finals in consecutive years.
"Just knowing what to expect, hopefully, there'll not be too much surprises," Crosby said. "We talk about experience all the time, but it is hard to learn."
Last year, the Penguins stuck to superstitious tradition and didn't touch the Eastern Conference championship trophy. That led to a loss, so this time Crosby picked it up and skated away with it.
"We didn't touch it last year and things did not go the way we wanted to, so we switched it up," Crosby said. "We know what we want."
Pittsburgh 2 1 1 – 4
Carolina 1 0 0 – 1
First period: 1, Carolina, E.Staal 10 (Cole, Samsonov), 1:36. 2, Pittsburgh, Fedotenko 6 (Boucher, Talbot), 8:21. 3, Pittsburgh, Talbot 4 (Satan), 18:31. Penalties: Malkin, Pit (holding stick), 9:52; Jokinen, Car (cross-checking), 15:27; Malkin, Pit (roughing), 19:35.
Second period: 4, Pittsburgh, Guerin 7 (Crosby), 12:10. Penalties: Seidenberg, Car (high-sticking), 3:09; Seidenberg, Car (tripping), 9:43; Guerin, Pit (holding), 9:56.
Third period: 5, Pittsburgh, Adams 3 (Crosby, Talbot), 18:50 (en). Penalties: Adams, Pit (hooking), 3:40; Corvo, Car (hooking), 10:49; LaRose, Car (tripping), 12:18.
Shots on Goal: Pittsburgh 9-10-6–25. Carolina 5-16-10–31.
Power-play opportunities: Pittsburgh 0 of 5; Carolina 0 of 4.
Goalies: Pittsburgh, Fleury 12-5-0 (31 shots-30 saves). Carolina, Ward 8-10-0 (24-21).
