The Penguins shut out the Flyers on May 18, 2008 to clinch their spot in the Stanley Cup Final.
Seventeen years ago today, the Penguins beat up on the Philadelphia Flyers in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals, punching their ticket to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final, earning their first appearance in the final in over 15 years.
The Penguins steamrolled their way to the Eastern Conference Final that year, sweeping the Ottawa Senators and beating the New York Rangers in five games.
The Penguins’ cross-state rival Flyers were up next and the series didn’t appear to be much different as Pittsburgh won the first three games.
The Flyers held off being eliminated in Game 4 in Philadelphia and sent the series back to Pittsburgh for a fifth game — one that was never much of a contest.
Ryan Malone scored twice and Marian Hossa had four points in the 6-0 win for the Penguins, including his 9th goal of the playoffs as Pittsburgh took an early lead and never looked back.
It’s a little wild in retrospect to realize how the Penguins earned their spot in the Stanley Cup Final and only lost two games in the process of getting there.