Pahlsson Silences Sens

Kneel before Zod!

Someone forgot to tell Sammy Pahlsson he's a checking center.

Pahlsson provided the only goal in Anaheim's 1-0 win in Game Two Wednesday night, streaking down the right wing and wristing a shot between Ray Emery's pads at 14:16 of the third period to give the Ducks a commanding 2-0 series lead. Come, sons of Ottawa, kneel before Zod!

People who didn't watch the game are going to see the 1-0 score and figure it was the same old boring NHL. Well, people are idiots. Don't believe the hype. Game Two was another spectacular display.

The ferocity and physical brutality of the first period nearly matched Game One's opening frame, with Mike Fisher and Chris Neil making sure Ottawa answered Anaheim hit for hit, as the teams combined for 23 hits and 19 shots. Anaheim still had the better of the play, despite having to kill off an extended 5-on-3 for the second consecutive game.

Naturally, the unbridled aggression began to lessen somewhat the longer the game remained scoreless. And after getting whistled for three penalties apiece in the first 20 minutes, neither club wanted to tempt fate, so the wanton recklessness became a bit more controlled in the middle stanza.

Finally able to stay out of the box, Anaheim asserted its dominance at even-strength, outshooting Ottawa 14-4 in the second period. Only Emery's superb play kept the Senators in the game. If this series is played five-on-five, Ottawa doesn't have a prayer.

The teams did trade minor penalties in the final two minutes of the second, giving Ottawa a power play for 1:34 to start the third period. Anaheim killed it without much trouble and kept things steady as she goes until Pahlsson stepped up and delivered.

Ottawa had its top line of Jason Spezza, Dany Heatley, and Daniel Alfredsson on the ice along with defensemen Tom Preissing and Joe Corvo. Anaheim, of course, countered with the "General Zod" line of Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Travis Moen, with Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer backing them up.

Heatley was lugging the puck in neutral ice and cut right to left through the middle to try to make a pass to Spezza in traffic. That's a bad idea. You really don't want to move the puck east and west against the Ducks, especially the Zod line. Pahlsson was quick to pounce, cutting the pass and busting the other way.

Corvo was the only defender back, and he had to turn and skate to keep up with Pahlsson as he screamed down the right wing. As soon as Pahlsson saw Corvo turn his hips, the cagey center cut to the middle of the ice and used the now stumbling defensemen as a screen, firing a quick wrister from the right dot through Emery and inside the far left post.

Alfredsson was backchecking, but he, like Corvo, assumed Pahlsson was going to carry the puck wide, so he drifted away into the slot, offering a half-hearted stick check in way of deterrent. Pahlsson took full advantage.

It's a tough play for Alfredsson, though. There were Duck players trailing behind him, so if he overcommitted on Pahlsson, someone would have been open. Yet, at the same time, watching him just peel off while Pahlsson scored is another lasting image of futility, joining his weak- kneed collapse under Rob Niedermayer's backcheck in Game One. But don't worry, Alfie, those aching regrets and haunting disappointments are what make life so interesting.

TURNING POINT
For the second straight game, a failed five-on-three doomed the Senators. They had a two-man advantage for 1:08 in the first period, and Chris Pronger was one of the men in the box, so it was a golden opportunity for Ottawa. The Sens moved the puck brilliantly and generated a few glorious scoring chances, but a couple bad bounces and two huge Jean-Sebastien Giguere saves kept them off the board. A goal there would have done wonders for Ottawa's confidence and may have taken some of the aggression out of Anaheim. Oh well. Maybe next time.

HEROES - OTTAWA

Ray Emery: This could have been Emery's best game of the playoffs. The Senators were outshot 31-16, and the scoring chances were just as lopsided. Without Emery, the final margin of victory could have easily been three or four goals.

Mike Fisher: Ottawa's best skater on the night, Fisher provided an enormous emotional lift early, setting a tone with his tenacious work ethic and consistent hitting. He did take a silly penalty late in the first period, but if everyone in an Ottawa sweater matched Fisher's intensity, the Sens would be going home tied 1-1.

Chirs Phillips and Anton Volchenkov: They're becoming fixtures on the Heroes list. They combined for six hits and eight blocked shots, playing their usual brand of rugged defense. But Phillips deserves special recognition for a play he made in the third period, chasing down Corey Perry from behind and stealing the puck before the Anaheim winger could even get a shot on what could have been a clean breakaway from center ice.

Not Jason Spezza: When did Craig Janney come out of retirement? Spezza needs to crank up the intensity or make way for someone else on the top line. He continues to be far too casual with the puck, committing one lazy turnover after another. This isn't the series to be fancy. Don't look for the extra pass.

In fact, Spezza shouldn't even concern himself with creating offense. He needs to go out and skate hard, pick up his man defensively, finish checks, and basically get involved physically. Do the little things. All offense starts with hard work defensively. That's where his focus should be right now. If he simplifies his game -- gets it out, gets it deep, and works his natural talents will take over.

And let's not forget Dany Heatley and Daniel Alfredsson, who have almost been as dreadful as Spezza. Almost. The trio gave away the puck 11 times, with Alfredsson leading the way with six turnovers, Spezza four, and Heatley one, although his was the biggest mistake of the lot.

Bryan Murray actually split the line to start the game, putting Alfredsson with Mike Fisher and Peter Schaefer, while Chris Neil replaced him alongside Spezza and Heatley. It didn't last long, though. Neil had only three shifts with them all night, one in the first and two early in the second. I thought it was a nice combination, kind of old school with the playmaking center, the sniper, and the banger. But Murray must have felt different.

Seeing how they'll have the last change at home, I'd expect to see the big line together for all of Game Three. And while it would seem logical to split them up on the road, seeing how they've been no match for General Zod, I don't have a problem with Murray continuing to roll them out there.

Listen, if your best players aren't good enough to beat their best players, you don't deserve to win. Don't blame Murray. This one's on Spezza, Heatley, and Alfredsson.

In an attempt to thwart Zod once and for all, Alfredsson is planning to wear a special jersey in Game Three that will feature a removable Senators logo made of cellophane. When thrown, the logo expands and is capable of ensnaring a large human, perhaps even entangling him enough to cause him to trip and fall to an icy death. Good luck with that.

HEROES - ANAHEIM

General Zod: What more can be said about Sammy Pahlsson, Rob Niedermayer, and Travis Moen? They're the best checking line in hockey, and they're proving it with their complete and utter domination of Spezza, Healtey, and Alfredsson.

"We obviously want to focus on that top line, and our checking line has done a great job of Sammy, Robbie and Travis, you know, being physical against them," said Chris Pronger when asked about his formidable friends. "Making them work inside on the puck and making them play defense. It's the best way to counteract offensive players."

Zod outshot Spezza's line 8-6. Scoring the winning goal against them was icing on the cake. Or, if you prefer pie, icing on the pie.

And an extra tip of the cap to Moen for sacrificing his body for the cause, diving to block an Alfredsson slapper with about 15 seconds left in regulation. It was inspirational. Plays like that are why the Ducks are two wins away from immortality.

"I don't know what I can say about those guys," praised Teemu Selanne. "They have been unbelievable the whole year. And obviously I'm so happy that the people can see how good they are. And I'm so happy that Sammy Pahlsson has been nominated the Selke, because he's outstanding. You don't know how good the guy is unless you see him on a day-to-day basis. The same with the line. They are proud to do their job and offensive they spark out when they need to. Unbelievable job."

Amen, brother.

Jean Sebastien-Giguere: I really haven't even mentioned Giguere yet. All he did was post a 1-0 shutout in the Stanley Cup Finals. Even though the Sens only had 16 shots, Giguere was tested on a few occasions, particularly during the five-on-three in the first period.

"He's unbelievable," said Selanne of his netminder. "And the biggest challenge for him the better he plays. So obviously five-on-three again, I don't like those five-on-threes. We have to be smarter, but when we - both games you have give on five-on-three power play for them. And we just can't keep doing that. We have to be smarter, but when we needed Giggy, he was there. Great job."

His best save of the night, though, probably came with about three minutes to go in regulation when Ottawa's top line actually generated an even-strength scoring chance, with Alfredsson setting up Spezza in the slot. Giguere read the play beautifully and butterflied to take the shot in the pads. He made it look easy, but it was a bang-bang play. Giguere's at the top of his game. It's going to be real tough beating him four times in five tries.

"You gain a lot of momentum on that from Giggy," said Pronger. "Got scrambly there around the net for about five or ten seconds, but he had some great stops again, and certainly when he's playing as well as he is right now, he's tough to get by."

Sean O'Donnell: Always the forgotten man along the blue line, O'Donnell had another quietly effective game, logging 19:04 of ice time. But he gets mentioned for a potentially game- saving play late in regulation. Peter Schaefer was all alone a few feet from the left post when a rebound found him, but O'Donnell just managed to get his stick out in time, tipping the shot wide of a gaping net. No one will even remember it now, but if O'Donnell isn't there, they could still be playing overtime.

Corey Perry: Perry was a good energy guy all night, cycling the puck hard, finishing checks, and tirelessly working the wall. And when the Ducks were trying to protect the lead late, he had a great shift with Brad May, eating up a good 20 seconds in the Ottawa zone.

KEYS TO GAME THREE
The good news for the Senators is they get to return home for Game Three Saturday night, giving Bryan Murray the tactical advantage of last change. He'll obviously try to keep Spezza, Heatley, and Alfredsson away from General Zod, but Randy Carlyle will likely split up Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer at even-strength, ensuring Ottawa's top line sees at least one Norris Trophy winner.

While being down 2-0 is never an ideal situation, a series doesn't even start until the home team loses. Anaheim isn't taking anything for granted.

"We've kind of done our job," said Pronger. "We've won our two home games, and let's face it, you're supposed to win your home games. Now it's in their court. And we're going to expect, obviously, a tougher environment in their building, and certainly their crowd will be behind them and cheering them on. So it will be a difficult atmosphere for sure."

Once again, the Ducks have to stay out of the box. They did a good job of it Wednesday, only taking four penalties the entire game. But the Ottawa crowd should be intense. And you have to figure there might be some home cooking in Canada, especially since the Sens were whining about the officiating again after Game Two, complaining the Ducks were still being allowed to "hold them up." Whatever. Keep it fair, Stripes.

"We want to keep playing better," said Selanne. "We have to raise the level. We know we're going to go there. They have a home crowd behind them. They're going to be better. We want to be better. We'll go from there."

The Sens may have the home crowd in Game Three and the last change, but the Ducks sill have Zod.

Kneel before Zod!

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