NHL: Pittsburgh 4, Carolina 1

Carolina Hurricanes Eric Staal (12) congratulates his younger brother Jordan Staal (11) of the Pittsburgh Penguins after Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. The Penguins beat the Hurricanes 4-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

The Pittsburgh Penguins celebrate their victory over Carolina Hurricanes during the third period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. The Penguins beat the Hurricanes 4-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

Carolina Hurricanes Eric Staal (12) runs into Pittsburgh Penguins Kristopher Letang (right) during the third period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. The Penguins beat the Hurricanes 4-1 to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

Pittsburgh Penguins Maxime Talbot (25) checks Carolina Hurricanes Joseph Corvo (77) for the puck in the Carolina defensive zone during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

Pittsburgh Penguins Sidney Crosby (left) celebrates after Bill Guerin (not shown) scores against the Carolina Hurricanes goalie Cam Ward (30) during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

Carolina Hurricanes Sergei Samsonov (14) attempts fights Pittsburgh Penguins Brooks Orpik (44) and goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29) for the puck during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

Carolina Hurricanes Patrick Dwyer (39) battles Pittsburgh Penguins Sergei Gonchar (55) for the puck during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

Carolina Hurricanes Rod Brind'Amour (17) carries the puck through the defensive zone in an attempt to make a shot against the Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre Fleury (29), Craig Adams (27) and Mark Eaton (7) during the first period of Game 4 of an NHL Eastern Conference finals Hockey game in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 26, 2009. (UPI Photo/Jeff Basladynski) | License Photo

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.