GO HOME FLYERS: Penguins Win Series 4-1 With Dominating Performance in 6-0 Game 5 Win

Now that's more like it.

Behind two goals from Penguins winger Ryan Malone, 4 points from winger Marion Hossa, and Marc-Andre Fleury's 3rd shutout of the playoffs, the Penguins humbled the Flyers in game 5 yesterday, winning 6-0 and closing out their series in 5 games.

About the only thing better would have been to deliver that crushing blow on Philadelphia's own ice. As it is, the Penguins will have to "settle" for their first Stanley Cup Final appearance since 1992.

The Penguins played their best game of the playoffs yesterday. Although they got a break on their first goal, which got them rolling, they clearly were focused and intent on finishing the Flyers and not going back to The Wachovia Center for game 6. The Penguins were unstoppable offensively and locked down the Flyers defensively. Philadelphia only had 13 shots after two periods for heaven's sake. The signature play of the game came on the Penguins third goal, which started with outstanding backchecking by Penguins Center Sidney Crosby. He pickpocketed Flyers Center Mike Richards and started a rush the other way which culminated in a pass from him to Hossa who blew it by Flyers Goaltender Martin Biron from the left circle.

Speaking of Biron, he was, putting it charitably, ordinary yesterday, letting six pucks behind him. In 5 series games, he allowed 20 goals, an average of 4 per game. So much for the 2nd coming of Ken Dryden. Although most in the Philadelphia area probably won't look too critically at Biron since the Flyers overachieved this year, reaching the Conference Finals only 1 year after finishing last overall in the league, I personally believe -- as surely some more astute Flyer fans also must (wait ... are there any of those??) -- that the Flyers won't win a cup with Biron. He's not good enough. He played a handful of good games and had a solid series against Montreal, but isn't capable of 4 rounds of excellence.

From all reports, the Penguins took yesterday's Conference Championship in stride, knowing they have higher goals in mind. I didn't see one player wear a conference championship hat or T-shirt in the aftermath of the victory. All made clear that they have their eyes on The Trophy. In fact, the greatest nugget to come from yesterday's victory had to do with the Prince of Wales Trophy.

Most probably saw that Crosby refused to touch or pick up the confernece hardware after it was presented to him and the team by NHL Vice President Bill Daly. Most probably heard him say at the post-game press conference that he's watched a lot of Stanley Cup Games, knew not to touch it, and heard about it from veteran teammates like winger Petr Sykora.

What many may not know is that the Penguins refused to allow the Prince of Wales Trophy in their dressing room. The guy in charge of the trophy, down from the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, said that was the first time any team ever refused to even have it in their room.

Credit for this story has to go to Pittsburgh Tribune Review writer Joe Starkey, who's oustanding column on this can be found here:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/penguins/s_568224.html

At this point the Penguins sit and wait to see who their opponent in the Stanley Cup Final will be. If Detroit wins tonight on the road in game 6 against the Stars, the flightless Birds draw the Red Wings in a series that will open up at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit. If the Stars become only the 7th team in the history of the game to force a game 7 after being down in a series 3-0, the Penguins will have to wait until the conclusion of that game on Wednesday night before learning who they'll match up against. If Dallas manages to pull off a miracle and comes back to win the series, the Penguins would have home ice.

For now, the Penguins deserve to bask in their near complete and total embarrassment of their arch-rival Flyers. They deserved to win and, no matter their opponent in the final, have a real chance this year to bring home the franchise's third Stanley Cup.