NHL: Pittsburgh 4, Carolina 1

RALEIGH, N.C., May 26 (UPI) -- Maxime Talbot had a goal and two assists Tuesday to help Pittsburgh beat Carolina 4-1 for its second straight Eastern Conference title.

Ruslan Fedotenko, Bill Guerin and Craig Adams also scored for the Penguins, who swept the Hurricanes four games to none. Pittsburgh is the first team to reach the Stanley Cup Finals in consecutive years since New Jersey in 2000-2001.

Pittsburgh will play either defending champion Detroit, which leads 3-1 in the Western Conference finals, or Chicago for the Stanley Cup.

Pittsburgh goalie Marc-Andre Fleury made 30 saves in the win.

Eric Staal scored the lone Carolina goal and Cam Ward stopped 21 shots in defeat.