Pahlsson finds a new level

No player’s stock climbed higher in the Stanley Cup playoffs than the Ducks’ Samuel Pahlsson, who closed out an outstanding postseason run with a dominant effort in Game 5 of the finals.

Pahlsson, who helped the Ducks frustrate the top scorers for Minnesota, Vancouver, Detroit and Ottawa in the playoffs, was on the ice when the Ducks scored three of their goals in finishing off the Senators with a 6-2 victory Wednesday night.

“I’m just so happy that we won, I really don’t care about who scored the goals or anything,” said Pahlsson, who finished the playoffs with a plus-10 rating despite going head-to-head against scoring threats such as Marion Gaborik, Henrik Zetterberg and Daniel Alfredsson.

“The whole team just did a really good job the whole playoffs. Everyone just stuck with the plan.”

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After the game, Ducks fans were given plenty of credit for their support this season.

“They do enjoy this as much as us,” said Ducks captain Scott Niedermayer, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the most valuable player of the playoffs.

“It’s a lot of fun for everybody, and they’re a big part of it.”

Added Ducks center Andy McDonald, who had three goals and two assists in the Ducks’ final two victories of the series: “What an amazing atmosphere,” McDonald said of the crowd for Game 5. “You’d never know you were in [Southern California]. It seemed like it was Canada out there. It was just unbelievable.... This last year, our fans have been extremely supportive and it feels great.”

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Ottawa Coach Bryan Murray, who played a big role in putting together the Ducks’ current roster when he was general manager for the franchise, was disappointed with the Cup results, but he gave credit to his former team for having players in the right spot at the right time throughout the finals.

“I think positionally, they played better than we did,” Murray said. “Defense in particular. That’s their agenda, really, to be a real strong defensive team. But I still maintain we had a few guys that didn’t play to what they were playing in the playoffs.”

Two players who disappeared against the Ducks were Dany Heatley and Jason Spezza, who combined for only one goal in five games. Over the first three rounds of the playoffs, Heatley and Spezza had 13 goals.

“I think that’s most disappointing,” Murray said. “What we and they have to live with through the summer. I say that with all due respect to Anaheim.”

He added that the Ducks “are big and strong and real solid defensively. They made it difficult to play maybe to the level that we had seen earlier on.”

Alfredsson, who struggled early in the series, bounced back to finish with four goals over the last three games, including both Ottawa goals in Game 5.

“He had lots of [negative] raps over time, and I think that happens when you don’t win championships and you don’t go far in the playoffs,” Murray said of Alfredsson, who was booed by Ducks fans every time he touched the puck, all because of firing the puck at Scott Niedermayer in Game 4.

“But this guy to me has been the ultimate captain for our hockey team,” Murray said.

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The Ducks will hold a Stanley Cup Fan Celebration on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. just outside the south entrance to Honda Center, facing Katella Avenue, featuring the Ducks’ players, and the Stanley Cup. There will be complimentary hot dogs and soft drinks too.

lonnie.white@latimes.com