PITTSBURGH, Pa - For the third straight series, the Penguins made quick work of their opponents. This time, they demolished the Flyers 6-0 in Game 5 to win the series four games to one, and over the course of the first three rounds, the Pens posted a stellar 12-2 record. And for the Flyers, there are more questions than answers as the team heads towards next season.

But next season will have to wait just a little while longer, as the Penguins now must wait to see who they will face in the Stanley Cup finals, either the Dallas Stars or the Detroit Red Wings.

The game was over early, as Pittsburgh out-shot the Flyers 10-5 in the first period and made the most of their opportunities. Ryan Malone, who got into a fight with Derian Hatcher at the end of Game 4, got a measure of revenge 12 seconds into a Mike Knuble holding penalty. Malone deflected a shot off his skate and slide in on Martin Biron’s short side to give the Pens a 1-0 lead.

Malone also assisted on the Penguins second goal as Malone took the puck behind the Flyers and left it behind him. Evgeni Malkin scooped it up and as Biron was looking right, Malkin took the puck to the left post and tucked it in before Biron could get back in time, giving the Pens a 2-0 lead.

In the second period the Penguins not only withstood an early Flyers power play, but scored again to take a commanding 3-0 lead. Sidney Crosby might not have scored the goal, but was largely responsible for it. Crosby stripped Mike Richards of the puck on one end, and while retrieving the puck at the other end of the ice, fed Marian Hossa in the slot and Hossa ripped the puck past Biron for the goal.

Malone was at it again when, while on the power play, Sergei Gonchar snapped a shot from the point. Malone deflected the shot home for his second goal of the game, and gave the Penguins a 4-0 lead.

The fun didn’t stop there for the Penguins. While Jordan Staal came down the slot, the puck was behind the Flyers' net. Maxime Talbot tried stuffing the puck in but the puck game into the slot where Staal was there to put a backhand shot past Biron to effectively put an end any hopes of a Flyers comeback.

Unfortunately for the Flyers, this wasn’t a prize fight, and couldn’t have been called off in the third period. The Penguins added one more goal in the third as Pascal Dupuis deflected a shot from the point that appeared to float in on net and somehow found it’s way past Biron for the final score of the game.

Despite the loss, Flyers head Coach John Stevens knew his team came a long way this season.

“Working with this group has been one of the more enjoyable experiences I’ve had in pro hockey. We’ve made some great strides this year.”

Stevens also knew his team ran into a buzz saw today.

“You give Pittsburgh credit. To me they were the number one seed in the East in terms of what I’ve seen. They are deserving to move on.”

While Stevens was singing the praise of his team, Flyers President and C.O.O. Peter Luukko sang the praises of his head coach.

“John came in last year, grew with the team, and look where we are. Look at how many teams would have loved to have been in this position. I thought he did a great job.”

Biron, who was stellar in the first two rounds, had a tough go of it against the Pens all series. Still, Biron also knew he, along with his teammates made great strides, and also knows that the future looks bright for the team.

“I think we’ve got a lot of leadership in here. Richards, Kimmo, Hatch. I thought that there were some tough times during the year, and they stepped up as leaders. This is tough, not just how we lost but because that you work all year to get here and just knowing the season is over is the tough part.”

The tough part now in reality is for the Flyers management to do whatever it takes to bridge the gap between themselves and the Penguins. The teams knows they are not that far apart, but with the salary cap to consider, and some key guys such as R.J. Umberger and Jeff Carter to sign, it might mean parting of the ways with some of the Flyers older veterans.

But that is another story for another time. In the mean time, the story of the day is, the Pittsburgh Penguins are heading back to the Stanley Cup finals for the first time since 1992. No matter who their opponent is, it us sure to be a great series nonetheless.

Contact the author at bjennings@insidehockey.com