Pahlsson Provides Rare Offense in Scrimmage

The Mighty Ducks’ scrimmage Thursday revealed something rarely seen last season ... offensive skills from Samuel Pahlsson.

Pahlsson, a 23-year-old center, scored two goals, helping Team Green defeat Team White, 6-5. Such a performance was unthinkable last season, when Pahlsson scored three goals in 59 games after being acquired in a trade with the Boston Bruins in November.

“I’m hoping to show more than I did last season,” Pahlsson said. “I wasn’t very good.”

Pahlsson, whose play was hardly noticed last season, was an example of the Ducks’ dire need for depth on their lines, even when their lineup is sound.

The unit of Pahlsson, Petr Tenkrat and German Titov looked sharp Thursday. The three were teamed together at times last season but rarely showed the efficiency they did in the scrimmage.

Pahlsson’s goals came in the second period and erased a 3-1 deficit. One was set up by a perfect cross-ice pass by Titov. Tenkrat scored the game-winner in the third period.

“That was the type of performance you like to see from a third line, a role line,” Coach Bryan Murray said. “They won faceoffs, played good defense and Sam and Tenkrat gave us some offense. They created a lot of opportunities with the way they forechecked.”

Whether they can do that consistently will be the next test. But for Pahlsson, the two-goal game, even in a scrimmage, seemed to ease his own concerns.

“I’m no Paul Kariya, but I can be better than I was last year,” Pahlsson said.

The scariest moment for the Ducks during the scrimmage was when defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski was knocked to the ice by Dan Bylsma early in the first period. Vishnevski was down for a minute, then was led off the ice, bleeding from the mouth. He needed stitches to close the cut and did not return, but he is expected to practice today.

NHL officials announced Thursday that no games will be played Saturday and Sunday, but there was a good chance games would resume Monday. The Ducks are scheduled to play at Phoenix on Monday.

The Ducks, whose exhibition game against the Kings on Saturday was postponed until Tuesday, will hold another team scrimmage Saturday instead.

“I was a little disappointed that we didn’t play,” left wing Mike Leclerc said. “People are going to work. Hockey is our job. Maybe people need something like this right now. At the same, I’m not sure people want to come out to a hockey game and cheer right now.”

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Defenseman Mat Snesrud, hospitalized Wednesday because of excessive cramps in his legs, was released that night. He played Thursday.