Blonde on Blonde:
Lines led by Swedes Daniel Alfredsson and Sammy Pahlsson at Center of Ducks/Sens Conflict
by Josh Brewster
www.hockeytalk.biz

MAY 26, 2007 -- ANAHEIM, CA -- In the main event of the upcoming Cup Final, Sweden's Daniel Alfredsson and his linemates will face their most formidable challenge of the playoffs, as fellow countryman Sammy Pahlsson centers one of the NHL's best shutdown lines for Anaheim.

Much has been made of the line of Dany Heatley, Jason Spezza and Alfredsson, and it's deserved after the trio registered 58 points collectively through the first three playoff rounds.  Heatley (21 points), Spezza (20) and Alfredsson (17) occupy first, second and fourth place on the NHL's playoff scoring leader list. 

LW Dany Heatley	C Jason Spezza	RW Daniel Alfredsson
LW Travis Moen	C Sammy Pahlsson	RW Rob Niedermayer

Alfredsson has put the Senators on his shoulders after years of criticism and blame for Ottawa playoff exits.  A constant victim of second-guessing was Alfredsson, similar to what Steve Yzerman endured in Detroit in the early nineties.  When the Sens lost a conference final to New Jersey in 2003, or the 2006 loss in round two to Buffalo, the captain was always singled out for blame (comes with the territory).  The (il)logic went that the captain might be expendable if the club hasn’t won a title.   In the case of Yzerman, the old story goes in Detroit that the Wings had actually dealt Yzerman away at one point early in the Bowman years before the first Cup win, but co-owner Marian Ilitch squelched the deal.

The Senators, to their credit, had no plans to dispense with Alfie.  GM John Muckler looked at other parts of the lineup for solutions last summer, subtracting Zdeno Chara and his huge salary in favor of the smart Tom Preissing and the shot-happy Joe Corvo, with added responsibilities for franchise centerpiece defenseman Wade Redden. 

After a slow start to the season, the Senators were one of the best second half clubs.  The Ducks will be hard-pressed to stop what seems to be Alfredsson’s destiny. 

For the Ducks, Travis Moen, the 25 year-old left wing on Pahlsson’s line, doesn’t dawdle with the puck.  If it’s on his stick, he usually shoots.  Rob Niedermayer is one of just four Ducks who were with the organization when the club lost the Cup Final to New Jersey in 2003.  Pahlsson is a Selke Trophy nominee for the first time.  The trio has remained together as a unit for the entire regular season and playoffs.

Pahlsson, the leader of the bunch, has been tremendous all season.  He set the new consecutive games played streak for the Ducks, has been dominant on faceoffs, is the forward used in three-on-five situations, and is a heavy hitter.  The 29 year-old also scored the game winning goal in game six, the shot that eliminated the Wings.  For his defensive prowess and overall game, the Selke nomination cements his reputation around the league. 

Anaheim's Travis Moen and Rob Niedermayer are potting some key points for the Ducks as they stay true to their defensive responsibilities as a checking line.  As an added boost to their club, the trio has managed to outpace its regular season point production significantly during this postseason (see below).

On defense, the Pronger/Niedermayer combo will be unleashed as a pair on special teams, split when even-strength.  The two should continue to see thirty minutes a night apiece (as will Francois Beauchemin), so expect to see Heatley, Alfredsson and Spezza against both or either constantly. 

Between the defense and checking line, the Ducks might be able to contain Alfredsson's line just enough to gain traction.  Of Buffalo, New Jersey, Pittsburgh and Anaheim, the best defensive challenge to the Senators is posed by the Ducks.   What's more, the Ducks' Penner/Perry/Getzlaf line will need time to get rolling, so the Ducks will need Pahlsson’s crew to stall any Heatley line avalanche. 

The amazing run of scoring prowess that Heatley, Alfredsson and Spezza have put together is one of the top stories of the playoffs.  In short, they've been lethal.  Nine power play goals between them, fourteen even strength.  Four game winners (including the shot that eliminated the Sabres) for Alfredsson, two for Heatley.  The trio has also combined for 148 shots on goal in fifteen playoff games: 50 (Heatley), 44 (Spezza), 54 (Alfredsson).  All see between 21 and 23 minutes of ice time.

Mike Fisher, Chris Kelly, Chris Neil, Mike Comrie, Antoine Vermette and Peter Schaefer will provide the depth, but the cornerstone of this series will be Ottawa's top trio against Anaheim's shutdown crew.

INTERNATIONAL: 

Pahlsson and Alfredsson were teammates on the 2006 Swedish Gold Medal team at the Olympics.  Alfredsson also played for the Team Sweden at the 2002 games.

QUOTABLE:

“It's going to be important to make them pay a price for taking penalties,” Alfredsson said. “I think our speed will force them to reach out with their sticks or hands. We can handle the hits, but we need to use our speed, cycling the puck in the corner and playing everything up-tempo.” – Alfredsson to the Toronto Globe and Mail

Stopping the top lines, with a scoring touch:

Pahlsson's line has been called upon to stop Minnesota and Marian Gaborik's line, then the Sedins of Vancouver, and the Datsyuk line for Detroit.  They availed themselves well, and scored at a pace beyond their regular season clip: 

*Note: Neither Moen, Niedermayer or Pahlsson have missed a game this season.   All three have appeared in each playoff game (16) as well as each regular season game (82). 

MAIN PAGE PHOTO OF SAMMY PAHLSSON COURTESY ANAHEIM DUCKS

MAIN PAGE PHOTO OF DANIEL ALFREDSSON GETTY IMAGES

PLAYOFFS MAIN PAGE
PLAYOFF GAME RECAPS

AUDIO SPECIAL:

STANLEY CUP FINALS
AUDIO CLIPS
RECORDED LIVE MAY 27:

Click to listen!

Interviews:

Eric Duhatschek, Globe & Mail

Harry Neale, Hockey Night in Canada

Press Conferences:

ANA: Giguere, Getzlaf, Selanne

ANA: Pronger, Niedermayer Bros.

ANA: Burke, Carlyle

OTT: Heatley, Spezza, Alfredsson

OTT: Murray, Muckler

Press: Please be sure to credit "Hockeytalk.biz" when using any quotes from these clips, or the clips themselves.  Posted as a service to our listeners.

LISTEN TO THE ARCHIVE ONLINE!
AND LIVE ON AM830

Top

Home

Playoffs Main