Pahlsson holding Senators in check
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- For all the acclaim that Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger draw, the Anaheim Ducks, who take a 1-0 lead over the Ottawa Senators into Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals tonight, have an honorary Canadian to thank for their stingy defense.
Samuel Pahlsson hails from Sweden, where players are recognized more for their skill than their grit.
But Anaheim general manager Brian Burke has noted that the 29-year-old checking-line center -- he of the game-high eight hits Monday in the Ducks' 3-2 win -- plays a sandpaper style more appropriate for a guy hailing from Red Deer, Alberta, than Ornskoldsvik.
"It's part of my game," said Pahlsson. "You have to hit when you're on the ice. It's something I should do."
The shutdown line of Pahlsson, Travis Moen, and Rob Niedermayer has developed into a defensive threesome that rivals New Jersey's trio of Jay Pandolfo, John Madden, and Sergei Brylin. This season, the 6-foot, 212-pound Pahlsson is a finalist for the Selke Trophy as the NHL's best defensive forward, and he proved he's worthy of the award with his Game 1 performance against Ottawa's No. 1 line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza, and Daniel Alfredsson.
"We take huge comfort in the feeling that we have a line that can play against any line in the league," said Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle, who shudders to think where the Ducks would be without the trio. "It's not easily developed."
The Bruins learned the truth of Carlyle's statement the hard way. Pahlsson, taken by the Avalanche with the 176th pick of the 1996 draft, was part of the package Colorado sent -- along with forward Martin Grenier and a 2000 first-round selection -- to Boston for Ray Bourque and Dave Andreychuk on March 6, 2000.
But less than nine months later, after playing in only 17 games with the Bruins (recording a 1-1--2 line with a minus-5 rating), Pahlsson was shipped back across the country to Anaheim for forwards Andrei Nazarov and Patrick Traverse. In Boston, Pahlsson didn't show any signs of being a solid NHLer.
In hindsight, the Bruins were guilty of not being patient with Pahlsson. Ottawa's No. 1 line is the top point-producing threesome in the playoffs, but Pahlsson and friends reduced it to a unit that drew the barbs of their own coach.
"He used to play like he did [Monday] night," cracked Ottawa coach Bryan Murray yesterday when queried about Spezza, who floated through most of Game 1 of the best-of-seven series. "Then he became a real good two-way player. He's a very smart player, a very creative player. I think he's improved his game immensely.
"I'm not sure why it happened the way it did [Monday] night. Maybe it was the first game of the final, being off for a long time, a variety of reasons. But Jason has really emerged as a good player in this league and on our hockey team. He's an important player, and his game will have to improve a great deal to where it was in the earlier series. I'm sure it will."
The Anaheim checking line, with help from the defensemen, established the forecheck and prevented the quick-strike Senators from completing cross-crease passes.
"I thought we played right into their hands," said Heatley. "We let them do what they're good at. We've got to get in behind them, get their D turning, win the battles, and keep the puck down there."
By his admission, Pahlsson would rather be a go-to scorer than a defensive specialist. In the Swedish Elite League, where he played for powerhouse MoDo, Pahlsson netted 33 goals over two seasons. During international play, when he's often on a line with P.J. Axelsson, Pahlsson isn't always matched against a No. 1 center.
"I think I've developed into that since I came over to the NHL," said Pahlsson. "Back home in Sweden, I was more of an all-around player that could do a little bit of everything. I'd love to be a goal scorer and score 50 goals in a season. But that's not me. I can't do that."
Tonight, the ex-Bruin will be back at it against Spezza's line, as Murray has no plans of breaking up the unit after one poor effort.
"Our line's played so well in every series so far," said Murray. "In the first and second periods, they weren't going as well as they should be. Because of that, do I break them up the first chance I get and show panic? Or do I decide to stick with them and let them play?
"We recognize that Niedermayer is a good skater and Pahlsson is a strong center iceman, a physical player. Our guys have to find a way to get some points against that particular line. It will be a good test for them and a good challenge for them. We've got to allow them some time to step up to that challenge."
