PHILADELPHIA -- The Penguins took a commanding three-games-to-none lead in the Eastern Conference final by stifling the Philadelphia Flyers, 4-1, tonight at the Wachovia Center.

The Penguins are 11-1 in the postseason and can eliminate Philadelphia and secure a spot in the Stanley Cup final as early as Thursday night, when Game 4 will be played here.

The Penguins took an early 2-0 lead and looked as if they might have gotten Flyers goaltender Martin Biron off his game.

Defenseman Ryan Whitney scored from the slot during a power play at 5:03 of the first period, and Marian Hossa made it 2-0 at 7:41, also from the slot. Sidney Crosby got assists on both.

The goals elicited some boos from the home crowd.

Philadelphia cut the deficit in half when Plum native R.J. Umberger slid the puck under goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury at 10:59 of the first period.

After a scoreless second period, Penguins winger Ryan Malone made it 3-1 when he beat Biron with a backhand shot at 9:58 of the third period.

Marian Hossa added an empty-net goal.