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Red Wings vs. Ducks:
Game 7 Preview / Keys to Victory
May 13, 2009

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Ducks' checking line does its job
Marchant resurgent, fills Pahlsson's former role
by Karen Francis
Hockeytalk.biz

May 8, 2009 -- ANAHEIM -- The Sami Pahlsson-Travis Moen-Rob Niedermayer line was not just a defensive, shut down line for the Anaheim Ducks. In 2007, when the Ducks won the Stanley Cup, they also added scoring in the postseason, scoring a combined 15 goals and 31 assists in 21 games. They were also a combined +24 rating throughout the playoffs. The line befuddled the Sedin brothers in the semi-finals against Vancouver and they were extremely efficient in keeping Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza at bay during the finals

When Sami Pahlsson and Travis Moen were traded away March 4 at the deadline, it signaled an end to the Anaheim Ducks checking line that was a dominant force the past couple of years. The only one left was Rob Niedermayer and there were two big spots to fill.

Coach Randy Carlyle first moved veteran center Todd Marchant up with Niedermayer.

“Everyone has to step up,” said Marchant. “You have to look at yourself and say what more can you do. Over the past three seasons, Sami, Robby and Mo have done an unbelievable job at (shutting down the top line). What it comes down to, it comes down to hard work, keeping your game simple.”

Trying to find the final third person, Carlyle experimented with Petteri Nokelainen, a trade deadline acquisition, as well as rookie Mike Brown. Yet by the middle of March, nothing was gelling.

“We’re going to continue to try to build towards defining a checking line,” said Carlyle at the time. “I don’t know if we have that ability in our line up any more. It’s hard to do. The expectations, it’s huge expectations when you put a line together and throw them out consistently against the other team’s top forwards. It’s tough.”

Then Drew Miller was recalled for the third time from Iowa. Suddenly there was a new option for the checking line that was still trying to find its identity.

“We think Drew Miller is a very smart hockey player,” said Carlyle. “We think that he has an opportunity and is getting an opportunity here that might be one that the door’s open wider this time than it was any other time.”

As time went on and the regular season came to a close, Marchant, Miller and Niedermayer got to know each other better and things started clicking. The chemistry and comfort level continue to increase. Now, as the playoffs proceed for the Ducks, that line is looking reminiscent of the 2007 checking line.

So far in their series against the Detroit Red Wings, the checking line has managed to shut down a very formidable grouping in Pavel Datsyuk, Marian Hossa and Tomas Holmstrom. In three games this series, those players each have a –2 rating and only one assist between them. Not exactly great numbers for a line that includes a player nominated for the Hart (team MVP), Selke (best defensive forward) and Lady Byng (most gentlemanly player) trophies.

What is it that has been so effective against a line that can be so dangerous for the Red Wings?

“We’re just trying to take away time and space,” noted Marchant. “We’ve had the ability of keeping the puck in their zone for extended periods of time and it makes a difference. The more time you spend in their zone the less time they spend in yours. It’s a total team effort, it’s not just one guy or two or three forwards. It’s everybody that’s on the ice.”

“I think it’s trying to play our speed and playing our system to a “T” against Datsyuk, Hossa and Holmstrom,” Miller added. “It’s a lot of speed and a lot of offense. To be able to shut them down gives our team a better chance to win. We’re having good luck right now with that.”

A healthy amount of respect and fear also helps out.

“They’re very talented,” Marchant said. “They’re a good line. They’ve got scoring, they’ve got physicality, they’ve got strength, they’ve got finesse.”

“We’ve got to keep playing harder than them and not let up, because if you let up one shift, that’s when they’re going to score and they’re gonna get hot,” Miller wisely cautioned.

Although this version checking line is not the offensive powerhouse that the 2007 incarnation was, they have still contributed to the score sheet.

“You don’t want to be known just as a checking line,” said Miller. “You want to still create offense and be a two-way line.”

In both rounds combined, Miller has two goals and an assist and Niedermayer has a goal and an assist. Marchant not only has an assist, but the game winning overtime goal in game two of the series. They are cumulatively a +13 rating.

The best part about the shut down line is that they are being effective without taking penalties.

“We’re skating more, moving our feet,” said Miller. “We’re not getting as many of those hooking, stick infraction penalties because we’re skating with these guys. That’s one thing we need to continue doing. Checking with our feet and that’s a big thing. If you don’t, once you start standing still, that’s when you take penalties and you can’t let them be on the power play because we know how good they are on that.”

Whatever it is they are doing, it is effective. So much so that there has been talk in the media that coach Mike Babcock perhaps needs to split up his trio. Whether or not he will do that remains to be seen.

Miller gives a lot of credit to Carlyle’s systems, that, when executed well, do work.

“We plan our systems really well and we force them into situations they don’t want to be comfortable in,” explained Miller. “That’s when we’re doing our job right. If we continue to do that with those guys and not give them that time and space, then we’re doing a good job.”

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