Axelsson finally given some space
RALEIGH, N.C. -- In his first 500-plus NHL games, left wing P.J. Axelsson was known more for his defensive skills, not for the offense he chipped in. In 533 games over seven seasons with Boston, he had 173 points.
Though he was held off the scoresheet in last night's 4-3 overtime loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, Axelsson is thriving under the NHL's stricter enforcement of the rules, with 10 points in 11 games. He had taken a four-game point streak into the contest against the surging Hurricanes, with two goals and three assists in that span.
The 30-year-old said the absence of obstruction fouls plays to his strengths and his size -- 6 feet 1 inch, 175 pounds.
''Without the holding and the clutching and grabbing, it really helps for a smaller guy like me," said Axelsson, who is fourth on the team in scoring. ''I had a lot of chances before, too, but it was more post and out and this year, it's the post and in. There are definitely more offensive plays out there and that's because of the rules. I like it. It's more skating and passing and shooting."
Axelsson, a native of Sweden, played for his country in the Olympics in 2002, the World Cup in 2004, and has suited up for six world championships. He said his international experience certainly hasn't hurt him with regard to the rules, but the game has changed overseas, too.
''It's more offensive hockey there than it was last year," he said. ''When I came over here eight years ago, we played really defensive hockey back home. Now, it's totally changed. There is a lot more offense but there still is a lot of clutching and grabbing. The ice surface is bigger so you have more room."
Axelsson said the emphasis on skating in the NHL has helped him succeed in the attacking zone, and he loves the increased speed.
''It's fun to skate, it's fast out there, the game is so much faster," he said.
Because of the rash of injuries as well as the extraordinary amount of special teams, Axelsson said he's been thrust into a variety of roles with different linemates.
''I like it," he said. ''I even played a little power play, and that's not going to happen too often. It's fun to be out there in different situations. Confidence is huge in this game."
When Axelsson first broke in with the Bruins, he established himself on a checking line with Tim Taylor and Rob DiMaio. He said the need for that line isn't the same as it used to be.
''I don't think you'll see as many checking lines out there as there were before," he said. ''Now you have to use your whole bench because the game is so uptempo."
The ultimate goal, he said, is to shut down the other team's best lines and contribute offensively, too.
''If you could do both," he said, ''that would be the perfect scenario."
Give and go
Sergei Samsonov, who celebrates his 27th birthday today, needs one assist to reach 200 for his career. He scored his fifth goal of the season last night . . . Joe Thornton's three-game point streak (two goals and six assists) came to a halt against the Hurricanes . . . Thornton and Glen Murray combined for just one shot on net and no points. ''They certainly played an abundance of minutes in Toronto [Monday night]," said coach Mike Sullivan. ''We were trying to give them a spark." Sullivan tried an assortment of left wings with them, including Axelsson, but it didn't work . . . Ian Moran played just one shift over 41 seconds, but there was no immediate word on whether he is injured . . . Center Dave Scatchard had a team-high six shots on net. Defenseman Brian Leetch was second with five and logged a game-high 28 minutes 51 seconds over 33 shifts.
