n its summer NHL “power rankings,” espn.com ranks the Pittsburgh Penguins as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference.

The website’s national hockey writer, Scott Burnside, rates the Penguins, Montreal, Philadelphia, the New York Rangers and Washington as the top five teams in the East, with the Penguins getting the nod.

“Never mind the absence of Marian Hossa, Ryan Malone, Jarkko Ruutu and Georges Laraque,” Burnside writes. “The Penguins still have the most formidable lineup down the middle of any team in the NHL, with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal, plus an emerging elite netminder in Marc-Andre Fleury.”

The espn.com Eastern Conference rankings: 1. Pittsburgh; 2. Montreal; 3. Philadelphia; 4. New York Rangers; 5. Washington; 6. New Jersey; 7. Carolina; 8. Tampa Bay; 9. Buffalo; 10. Ottawa; 11. Boston; 12. Florida; 13. Toronto; 14. New York Islanders; 15. Atlanta.

The Western Conference rankings are: 1. Detroit; 2. San Jose; 3. Dallas; 4. Anaheim; 5. Edmonton; 6. Chicago; 7. Calgary; 8. Nashville; 9. Minnesota; 10. Columbus; 11. Phoenix; 12. Vancouver; 13. Colorado; 14. St. Louis; 15. Los Angeles.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have agreed to a 7-year contract worth $35 million, which translates to an annual salary-cap hit of $5 million.

Maxime Talbot tied game with 34 seconds left in regulation, Petr Sykora scored 9:57 into the third OT as the Pens avoided elimination with a miraculous 4-3 win over the Red Wings in the fifth longest game in Stanley Cup Finals history.

Although Sykora ended the game, goalie Marc-Andre Fleury is the primary reason the Penguins won. He finished with 55 saves, many of them amazing, and came through with one of the most clutch performances of his career in his most important game as a pro.

Game 6 will be played at the Mellon Arena Wednesday June 4, 8pm.

Highlights from game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals

Sidney Crosby scored twice to help the Pens take game 3.

Adam Hall scored the game winning goal halfway through the 3rd period.

Marc-Andre Fleury, who has won his past 19 starts at Mellon Arena dating back to the regular season, was brilliant in the victory, stopping 32 of 34 shots.

The Penguins are 9-0 at home in the playoffs and have won 17 games in a row overall at Mellon Arena. Game 4 is Saturday night at the Igloo.

Highlight from game 3 of the Stanley Cup Finals

Ryan Malone scored twice, Marian Hossa had four points and Marc-Andre Fleury made 21 saves as the Penguins advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals with a 6-0 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers.

The Penguins have a 12-2 record through three rounds also marked a franchise high.

Highlights from game 5

Evgeni Malkin scored two power-play goals and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 36 shots as the Penguins held off the Rangers, 5-3, jumping out to a commanding 3-0 series lead in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

The Penguins are the first team to open the playoffs with seven victories since the Rangers in 1994, when New York ended a 54-year championship drought.

In seven playoff games, Malkin has 13 points on five goals and eight assists. He scored the game-winner in Games 1 and 3 of this series. Crosby, who had two assists Tuesday night, has 12 points on two goals and 10 assists

Highlights of game 3

Jordan Staal's second-period goal held up as the Penguins take Game 2 Sunday at Mellon Arena 2-0, giving them a 2-0 lead in games over the Rangers.

Marc-Andre Fleury made 26 saves for his second shutout this postseason.

Highlights from game 2