 The Eastern Conference Final began between the Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers on May 9. Malkin scored with 7 seconds left in the first period to take a 3 – 2 lead, and extended the advantage with a shorthanded goal in the second period, giving the Penguins a 1 – 0 advantage in the series after Game 1. In Game 2, Talbot scored to take the lead in the third period, and Staal added an empty-net goal to give the Penguins a 4 – 2 win and a 2 – 0 series lead. The win was the Penguins'seventh consecutive home playoff win, a franchise record, improving on a six-game streak in the 1992 playoffs. The Penguins also became only the fifth team to start the playoffs with a 10 – 1 record, and the first since the Detroit Red Wings in 1995. Game 3 saw the series move across state to Philadelphia; the Penguins struck quickly with goals from Ryan Whitney and Hossa within the first eight minutes. Hossa added his second goal on an empty net to seal the victory. With the win, the Penguins become the first team since the 1983 Edmonton Oilers to start the playoffs 11 – 1. The Penguins failed to close out the Eastern Conference Finals with a sweep of the Flyers in Game 4, losing 4 – 2. The Flyers jumped out to a 3 – 0 lead in the first period. The Penguins fought back getting two goals from Jordan Staal in the third period, but Joffrey Lupul's second goal on an empty net sealed the win for the Flyers. The series returned to Pittsburgh for Game 5, where the Penguins won their eighth consecutive home game by a final score of 6 – 0, the Prince of Wales Trophy, and a trip to the Stanley Cup Final.
