Let’s rewind in time.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins are about to square off in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals.

Starting lineups are on the ice, a buzz builds around Consol Energy Center and the puck is about to drop.

Quick, which team has the advantage?

Most would have pointed to the squad with Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and a bevy of other talented players responsible for posting over four goals per game through the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Boston didn’t shine with star power, but a strong track record, wealth of experience in pressure-packed situations and superior consistency should have earned the Bruins more respect coming into this series.

Consider the facts since the start of the 2008-09 postseason as Game 1 was about to begin:

These teams are in the same class.

The Penguins and Bruins each won a Stanley Cup. Pittsburgh sported a 36-25 playoff record, while Boston was 41-27.

Both teams can explode, only one implodes.

Pittsburgh had a 7-5 record in playoff games decided by four-plus goals. Boston was 8-1. To put it in perspective, 20 percent of the Penguins’ losses over the past five Stanley Cup runs were completely lopsided. The Bruins lost by that wide of a margin in 3.7 percent of their setbacks.

Boston is the more battle-tested team.

The Bruins played in 18 overtime playoff games, while the Pens engaged in 11 such battles. Boston also gritted out 36 games decided by one goal. The Penguins had 26 one-goal contests under their belt.

Boston is better defensively.

The Bruins gave up 2.29 goals per playoff game since ’08-09 and Pittsburgh allowed 2.98 per contest.

This season, Tuukka Rask ranked third in the NHL in save percentage and fourth in goals-against average. It didn’t matter who was in net for the Pens, as neither Tomas Vokoun nor Marc-Andre Fleury ranked better than 15th in either category.

Sorry Pittsburgh fans, but it’s time to fast-forward.

The Bruins have a 3-0 series lead and are one win away from sending the Pens into the offseason.

From the opening faceoff, Boston was never intimidated. Despite an early onslaught of Pittsburgh chances, the Bruins maintained discipline in Game 1 and handed the Pens their first shutout loss.

Pittsburgh’s frustration carried over into Game 2, where the Pens melted down — as they occasionally do — en route to a 6-1 loss.

In Game 3. Boston, which has been there so many times before, never made the big mistake and leaned on its scorching-hot goalie for a pivotal victory in double overtime.

Can Pittsburgh turn the tables and win four straight? Yes, it’s possible.

Pittsburgh’s star power fading into the offseason is much more probable.

Jason Orfao is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.