Unsung Hero: Dennis Wideman

The Bell Centre was roaring and the Boston Bruins were reeling for the first -- and, as it turned out, only -- time in their first-round series with the Montreal Canadiens.

Chris Higgins' goal seven minutes earlier had given the Habs their first lead in the series, and Game 3 was beginning to look like the one that just might turn this into yet another Bruins heartbreaker in the long-running Montreal-Boston playoffs saga. Then Dennis Wideman stepped up -- when everything around him seemed to be shouting: "Back off!"

With one Montreal forward coming at him, another sneaking behind him and Canadiens defenseman Mike Komisarek in firm possession while readying a breakout pass, Wideman decided to hold his left point position a moment longer before beating a discretionary retreat. That left Wideman in position to pounce on Komisarek’s errant pass and make an instantaneous shot/pass that Phil Kessel redirected home for the tying goal with 1:25 left in the first period -- one that hit the entire Bell Centre like a sledgehammer.

The Bruins would go on to win that series-cementing Game 3 – with Wideman playing major minutes in a smothering, lead-protecting third period – en route to the sweep that has them facing Carolina  in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. They do so not only with man-mountain Zdeno Chara and grizzled playoff veterans Aaron Ward and Andrew Ference on their blue line, but with a 26-year-old Wideman, whose confidence is soaring one year after he admittedly was a bit overwhelmed making his NHL postseason debut.

 "I went from being too excited to then trying to control my emotions too much later on the series." Wideman said of his work in Boston's seven-game first-round loss to Montreal in 2008. “I don't think I found that balance that you need in the playoffs.''

He found it in the Bruins-Canadiens rematch this year. Marrying positional discipline in his own end of the ice to the offensive ability he’s always displayed, Wideman was rewarded by Boston coach Claude Julien with 22:38 of ice time per game – only Chara logged more.

His four assists in four games weren’t surprising. But his decision making in just his seventh, eighth, ninth and 10th career playoff games probably opened a few skeptical eyes. His poise on that pivotal play in Game 3 was more akin to that of a Leetch or a Niedermayer than a skittish young defenseman.

"I really liked his composure," Julien said. "At one point, they were really forechecking us hard and it would have been easy for him, and a lot of our 'D' for that matter, to just take the puck and rim it along the boards. (The Canadiens) were pinching along the boards and it would have been turnover after turnover. Dennis was so calm, he skated with it, took that extra second to make a good pass."