(Photo: Bridget Samuels) Dennis Seidenberg was one of the few bright spots for the Bruins in their seven game series loss to the Washington Capitals

You may not find his name in the Norris Trophy finalists, but Dennis Seidenberg continued to show why he is so valuable to the Boston Bruins. Last night during Game 7 when most of the team did not come to play, Seidenberg came to work, ready to rumble. He was beating everyone to the puck, taking hits, giving hits and blocking shots at the most important times.

Seidenberg finished with three points in seven games for the Bruins (one goal, two assists), but it was his toughness and determination that doesn’t show up in the stat sheet that made him one of the best players on the ice for the Black and Gold.

With less than 10 minutes left in regulation, Seidenberg lost his stick in the defensive zone when Capitals forward Alexander Ovechkin had a one timer lined up which surely would of gave the Capitals a 2-1 lead, but Seidenberg again came up with a big play for the Bruins.

“Well I had no stick and I mean I saw Bergy (Patrice Bergeron) winding up for a shot and most of the times they are looking for the winger,” Seidenberg said. “I think it was (Alexander) Ovechkin and see pass, and we are watching a lot of video and we know their tendencies and all you do is try to keep yourself in a shooting lane and try and block that shot and that’s what happened, I got lucky.”

Head coach Claude Julien praised the play of Seidenberg after the Game 7 loss to the Washington Capitals.

“Well, Dennis has been good for us in all the playoff series from the past, and again, this one here,” Julien said. “As I said, he’s such a well-tuned athlete and in great shape, and you can’t tire him out. He plays big, he plays strong and he loves those kinds of challenges. So, you know, it’s unfortunate, we probably needed more players like him.”

Seidenberg did it throughout the 2011 Stanley Cup run  up until the final whistle blew in game seven versus the Capitals. There is no doubt if the Bruins made another Cup run in 2012, Seidenberg would have been in the middle of the success for this team. He has been an unsung hero every since he put on the Bruins sweater.