Sixteen years ago today, Mellon Arena was the site of a thrashing in the Battle of Pennsylvania. A 6-0 win for the Penguins against the Flyers sent Pittsburgh back to the Stanley Cup Final.
Just one year removed from the team’s first playoff appearance in their new era with the young guns of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Jordan Staal, and Marc-Andre Fleury leading the way, the Penguins ran roughshod through the Eastern Conference and established themselves as a true powerhouse.
A 4-0 sweep of the Senators in the first round was followed by a 4-1 series win over the Rangers that had the Penguins riding high headed into the Eastern Conference Final.