Penguins 6, Senators 2: James Neal recorded his first career postseason hat trick and added an assist as host Pittsburgh won Game 5 to eliminate seventh-seeded Ottawa and secure its first Eastern Conference final appearance since 2009.

Norris Trophy finalist Kris Letang collected a goal and two assists, Evgeni Malkin had one of each and Brenden Morrow tallied in his return after missing Game 4 with an undisclosed injury. Tomas Vokoun improved to 6-1 in the playoffs after turning aside 29 shots for the top-seeded Penguins, who will face the winner of the second-round series between Original Six rivals Boston and the New York Rangers.

After scoring twice in Game 4, Neal gave Pittsburgh a 2-0 lead by tapping home a loose puck on the doorstep during a power play at 7:38 of the second period. Letang set up that tally before scoring one of his own just over five minutes later, when he cut into the slot and wired a shot past Craig Anderson (27 saves).

Milan Michalek answered 3 1/2 minutes later, accepting a feed from Jason Spezza on the doorstep and backhanding the puck past Vokoun. Malkin regained Pittsburgh's three-goal lead by scoring on a partial breakaway before Neal took advantage of former Penguins defenseman Sergei Gonchar's giveaway along the goal line 11:07 into third to make it 5-1.

Neal secured the franchise's 13th postseason hat trick - and second of the series - by wristing a shot past Anderson from the slot with 2:39 left in the third. Captain Sidney Crosby scored three times in the Penguins' 4-3 win in Game 2.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Penguins LW Matt Cooke notched an assist in each of his last three contests after being held off the scoresheet in the first eight games of the playoffs. ... Pittsburgh has recorded a three-goal period on six occasions this postseason. ... Former Steelers RB Franco Harris and actor Michael Keaton were in attendance at Consol Energy Center.