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Penguins Clinch Eastern Conference Championship

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May 27, 2009 8:57 am US/Eastern

Penguins Clinch Eastern Conference Championship

RALEIGH, N.C. (KDKA/AP) ― For the second year in a row, the Pittsburgh Penguins clinched the Eastern Conference Championship and are on their way to the Stanley Cup finals.

The Pens swept the Carolina Hurricanes, beating them 4-1 in Game 4 in Raleigh last night.

The Penguins outscored the Hurricanes 20-9 in the series, netted at least three goals in each game, and trailed for a total of 20 minutes, 30 seconds in advancing to the Cup finals for the fourth time.

If the Stanley Cup champion Red Wings beat Chicago in the West 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.

The Red Wings, who lead Chicago 3-1 in the West finals, could join them as soon as Wednesday night.

The Penguins are the first runner-up to return to the finals since Edmonton in 1983 and 84, and that experience could help this time.

"Just knowing what to expect, hopefully there'll not be too much surprises," captain 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."

Dan Bylsma, who took over for fired coach Michel Therrien in February when the Penguins were in danger of missing the playoffs completely, will be making his first trip to the finals.

"He has been great for us, brought a great attitude, turned our game around and brought an up tempo game and we went after teams more," Crosby said. "He is new to this as much as we are and we're doing it all together."

If that Detroit-Chicago series wraps up tonight, the Stanley Cup finals could begin as early as this weekend.

Stay with KDKA for the latest details.

(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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