Revived Flyers to test Pens’ Mellon streak

Pittsburgh has won every home game since Feb. 24.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — If the Pittsburgh Penguins don’t realize the enviable position they’re in, the large NHL standings board in the middle of their dressing room should tell them.

Only two Eastern Conference teams are listed, with the conference finals results in bright red numbers: Penguins 3, Flyers 1.

For the Penguins, it’s one victory to go to play for the Stanley Cup, a large picture of which also is displayed in their locker room. The black and white photo highlights the names of the 1991-92 Penguins, the last team in franchise history to play for, and win, the Cup.

Only one victory, though the Penguins know Game 5 against the Flyers today is likely to be the most difficult playoff game for them to date. The Penguins could have closed out their intrastate rival Thursday but lost 4-2 after falling behind by three goals and, too, falling into a Flyers-baited trap of focusing on pushing, shoving and punching rather than trying to score goals.

“It’s a great opportunity to finish this series off,” team captain Sidney Crosby said Saturday.

If the Penguins didn’t realize how difficult it can be to finish off a team, the Detroit Red Wings showed them by losing Game 5 of the Western Conference finals at home to Dallas 2-1 on Saturday. Now, the Red Wings must return to Dallas for a Game 6 they didn’t want to play Monday night, especially not after dominating the first three games.

Back to Philadelphia? The Penguins don’t want to do that until next season.

“We definitely don’t want to go back to Philly, that’s for sure,” said Jordan Staal, who scored both Pittsburgh goals in Game 4. “It ain’t fun playing there. We want to get this done right now and we’re focused on just one game right now, this one.”

Coach Michel Therrien, no doubt trying to keep his team’s confidence level high, keeps emphasizing how well they play at home. The Penguins are 7-0 at Mellon Arena in the playoffs and 15-0 at home since a 2-1 shootout loss to San Jose on Feb. 24, or nearly three months ago.

“February? That’s right?” goalie Marc-Andre Fleury said, unaware the streak was so long. “Knock on wood.”

Still, this doesn’t figure to be the same Flyers team that looked ill at ease in losing Games 1 and 2 in Pittsburgh by identical scores of 4-2. Star defenseman Kimmo Timonen (blood clot on left ankle) went through a full practice Saturday and expects to play for the first time since Game 5 of the second round against Montreal.

“I think I’m ready to go,” Timonen said.

Flyers defenseman Braydon Coburn, who needed 50 stitches to close a cut above his left eye after being struck by a puck in Game 2, is less confident about playing but hasn’t been ruled out.