when wideman has a bad game...

Dennis Wideman looked pretty rough in the game against the Maple Leafs. He's spent most of a season building on the potential that he displayed at points with St-Louis, and in streaks last year. This season he has been more consistent with the puck - still delivering the first pass with accuracy and timing - but has been vastly improved in the defensive part of his game.

His overall plus / minus ratio is great (plus 26, third in the league), and he's amassed 31 points in 46 games.

But last night, he was fighting the puck the whole game. Turnovers leading to chances, and indecision (in an admittedly tough, two-on-one situation) leading to goals, showcased the Bruins overall reliance on Wideman playing at the top of his game.

Wideman represents a valuable commodity in today's NHL.

Like Montreal's Andre Markov, or Chicago's Duncan Keith, he is a tough defender who can also play pivot on the powerplay and be a large cog in the offensive wheel. Arguably, the downside of having one of these 'upside' defensemen is that a team comes to rely on that ability on a nightly basis. Therefore, when Wideman has a bad game, the Bruins have a bad game.

Andrew Ference is reportedly nearing a return to the Bruins lineup (after All-Star break, apparently), and he will offer another offensive weapon from the B's blue line, which should relieve the pressure on Wideman a little. Hopefully by cooling it out a bit, Wideman will rediscover his calm control with the puck.

And provide that confident push from the back-end that the Bruins offense requires.