OTTAWA, April 16 (UPI) -- Jarkko Ruutu put Pittsburgh in front late in the second period Wednesday and the Penguins went on to eliminate Ottawa from the playoffs with a 3-1 victory.
Pittsburgh completed a four-game sweep of the Senators, winning a post-season series for the first time in seven years. It was the Penguins' first sweep in the playoffs since 1992, when they won the Stanley Cup Finals in four games over Chicago.
The Penguins became the first team to reach the conference semifinals. They outscored Ottawa in the four games 16-5.
After a scoreless first period, Evgeni Malkin put Pittsburgh in front 1:40 into the second with a power-play goal.
Cory Stillman tied it midway through the second, but Ruutu put Pittsburgh ahead again with 4:32 remaining on a backhander that beat Martin Gerber.
Marc-Andre Fleury protected the lead until Sidney Crosby scored into an empty net with eight seconds remaining in the game.
Pittsburgh gained revenge against Ottawa after being eliminated in the conference quarterfinals by the Senators last year.
Ottawa's exit from the playoffs comes one year after winning the Eastern Conference title and making its first trip to the Stanley Cup Finals.
