It's the Penguins' fault, of course, all this hand-wringing.

If they hadn't run through the Ottawa Senators like a hot poker through snow in the first round, dispatched the New York Rangers in five games, then taken a 3-0 lead against Philadelphia, it's entirely likely there wouldn't be so much angst in the air over Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final today against the Flyers.

It's angst the Penguins might have produced among the public by being so proficient this postseason, but it's an emotion they don't share.

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Eastern Conference Final
Game 5

• When: 3:08 p.m. today
• Where: Mellon Arena
• TV: WPXI

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Scouting report

• Matchup: Penguins vs. Philadelphia Flyers, 3:08 p.m. today, Mellon Arena.
• Series: Penguins, 3-1.
• TV, radio: WPXI, WXDX-FM (105.9).
• Probable goaltenders: Marc-Andre Fleury for Penguins. Martin Biron for Flyers.
• Penguins: Win clinches berth in Stanley Cup final for first time since 1992. ... Are 7-0 at home this postseason. ... Are 9-0 when scoring first in playoffs.
• Flyers: Were 2 for 4 on power play in Game 4 after going 1 for 9 in first three games. ... Are 4-5 on road this postseason. ... Are 3-3 in one-goal games in playoffs.
• Hidden stat: In final minute of Game 4, 34 penalty minutes were assessed. That's more than the two teams amassed in Game 1 or Game 3.

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"I didn't hear anyone or see anyone picking

us to sweep the Flyers at the beginning of the series," defenseman Brooks Orpik said. "All of a sudden when you don't win in four, it's the end of the world.

"But nothing changes for us."

The Penguins were sitting at 11-1 overall in the postseason and with a 3-0 lead against the Flyers before they had an off start and fell, 4-2, in Game 4 Thursday at the Wachovia Center. Philadelphia rode a three-goal first period in that game, although the Penguins struck back with two goals by Jordan Staal in the third period before the Flyers closed it out with an empty-net goal.

The fact that in one night those numbers got slightly bigger on the wrong side -- 11-2 overall and 3-1 against Philadelphia -- doesn't dismay the Penguins.

"We've had a fortunate run so far," defenseman Rob Scuderi said. "The team's played well and earned it. At the same time, to say before that we would have the record we have so far, I think most of us would be surprised.

"But nobody's panicking here. The series is still in our favor -- although I would say that they've stolen the momentum for right now because they won the last game. It's up to us to stop their momentum and close it out."

Winning so regularly the past 5¹/₂ weeks might have spoiled those who follow the Penguins, and taking the first three games against Philadelphia, already an established rival, likely magnified the Game 4 loss.

"That always happens," Penguins winger Jarkko Ruutu said. "When you're up, 3-0, everything seems so easy. But every game's been tough for us. It's part of the playoffs.

"You've got seven games to win four games. You obviously want to do it as quick as possible. It's something we want to finish [today]."

Winning the first two games at Mellon Arena and then splitting two on the road to bring a 3-1 advantage back home has long been the type of formula teams covet.

In this case, the Penguins probably conditioned fans to see a win just about every game and are coming off a loss with something as important as a berth in the Stanley Cup final on the line.

"Anytime you go into someone else's building, if you get at least one, you're going to be satisfied," Orpik said. "It's just the order. If you lose the third game and win the fourth game and then come home, it's a completely different mind-set for fans.

"Not for us. We know we didn't play well [in Game 4] and yet we still almost won, so we're still a pretty confident group."

For a primer on how to handle things when you lose on the road after winning the first three games of a series, the Penguins don't have to look back far.

This is exactly the scenario they faced against the Rangers.

In Game 4 of that second-round matchup, the Rangers lured the Penguins into taking penalties, rang up 34 shots, dished out 40 hits, got a stellar game from goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and stifled them, 3-0, at Madison Square Garden.

That didn't stop the Penguins from coming back to clinch the series with a 3-2 win at home on Marian Hossa's overtime goal in Game 5.

"We learned from that," Ruutu said. "It's always hard to win the fourth game. That's not a secret. The other team is loose. They just throw everything at you."

Loose, perhaps, but, for the Flyers, it is still a case of lose today, and their season is finished.

"I think both teams have a lot of pressure on them," Philadelphia forward Daniel Briere said. "They're trying to move on to the next step; we're trying to move to the next game. So, at this time, I think both teams have a lot of pressure there. I don't have the feeling that there's more pressure on one side or the other."

Penguins coach Michel Therrien expects his team to thrive under such conditions today.

"Usually, we bring our 'A' game for a challenge like [today], and I'm expecting an 'A' game," he said.

"A" not being for angst.