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Pahlsson steps up for shorthanded Ducks

Jan 7, 2009 - 7:02 AM By Craig Shultz PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ANAHEIM, California (Ticker) -- Samuel Pahlsson put his reputation aside and provided an offensive spark for the shorthanded Anaheim Ducks.

Hardly known for his offensive prowess, Pahlsson snapped a tie midway through the third period with a power-play goal to help the Ducks top the Los Angeles Kings, 3-1, on Tuesday.

Bobby Ryan also scored with the man advantage and Rob Niedermayer added an empty-netter in the final seconds for the Ducks, who have been without star Teemu Selanne and absorbed another big hit when Corey Perry received a league-imposed, four-game suspension for an elbow thrown in Friday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers.

With the missing players, Pahlsson has been playing with the Ducks' top power-play unit.

"I'm usually not out there a lot on the power play, but I got a couple of chances there, and it is fun," Pahlsson said. "It's going to be tough to stay when we get some guys back here. I'm going to try to help out when I get my chance out there.

"We need the power play. We need the special teams to win games. It's not always the final five that wins it. You need the goalie saving you or the power play saving you."

Defensemen Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer each collected two assists and Jonas Hiller made 17 saves two nights after shining in a 2-0 blanking of the Phoenix Coyotes. The Swiss netminder entered with a 3-0-0 lifetime record and 0.56 goals-against average against the Kings.

"Against (Los Angeles), you have to be real patient because they just wait until we make a mistake and they try to get a break," Hiller said.

Hiller's 10th victory of the season matched his total from last season - his first in the NHL.

"I'm pretty confident," Hiller said. "The more I play, the easier it is because you don't have to find your game the whole time again. You still feel it from two nights ago. You go out there and feel comfortable. If you just play once every second week, it's tough to get into the game."

Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle said it was an easy decision to go with Hiller again over All-Star starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere.

"With Jonas, any time a goalie pitches you a shutout, why fix it if it isn't broken?," Carlyle asked. "Tonight, he didn't have that much work, but he was called on to make some big stops at critical times."

Blue-liner Kyle Quincey tallied on the power play for Los Angeles, which fell for the seventh time in 10 games.

Erik Ersberg made 23 saves for the Kings as the teams opened a home-and-home series that concludes Thursday in Los Angeles. Ersberg was making his first start since injuring his groin December 15.

"I felt pretty good," Ersberg said. "The goals were pretty tough goals, so I think I played an OK game."

The Kings needed the effort from their netminder as the offense did not produce many chances, registering just three shots on goal in the third period.

"Neither team had anything going on the offensive side of the game. There were not a lot pucks put to the net," Los Angeles coach Terry Murray said. "Both teams came out with a checking mind set and did a good job against the top lines.

"The opportunities we had in the third period were either blocked, hit sticks or anything up to the defensemen. ... They did a good job of shutting us down."

Pahlsson scored the game-winner 9:45 into the third, redirecting a wrist shot by captain Scott Niedermayer past Ersberg. Pahlsson's fourth tally of the season came 18 seconds into a power play after Kings rookie defenseman Drew Doughty was whistled for delay of game.

"I was on the far post and Scott Niedermayer basically hit my stick in the air and it went in," Pahlsson said.

"It's nice to see a guy get an opportunity," Scott Niedermayer said of Pahlsson. "He does a lot of the tough work that isn't all the glory. Now he's out there on the power play. It's nice to see get him rewarded with a goal. He's doing a good job. He's a gifted player, has a great wrist shot and is a big, strong guy."

Earlier in the contest, the Ducks needed just seven seconds on a man advantage to take a 1-0 lead. With Doughty in the box for cross-checking, Ryan one-timed a pass from Ryan Getzlaf past Ersberg from the slot with 2:28 left in the first period.

Ryan said the power play is made easier with two former Norris Trophy winners in Scott Niedermayer and Pronger manning the points.

"You get it back to those two back there and they're going to move it around to the right places," Ryan said. "It's important for (Pahlsson) and I to be in the right spot. Tonight, we were both fortunate to be there."

Murray believed the power play was the difference.

"They took advantage of their opportunities on it tonight," Murray said. "They have some good players. They move the puck around. (Scott) Niedermayer makes a great play. When I look at the replay, it looks to me like he's shooting toward Pahlsson's stick. It wasn't anything but a smart play by a great player."

Quincey tied the game 74 seconds into the middle session, sending a slap shot past Hiller after a sequence of passes from Anze Kopitar and Jarret Stoll.

"We are pretty unsatisfied with the game today," Doughty said. "We had a great opportunity going into the game - they didn't have their whole lineup. Our conference is so close. ... We can't be satisfied just being in these games, we have to want to win these games, and we are going to have to do something to change it. We need to put more pucks in the net and keep more out so we can win these games."