Wideman

Part of the reason Wideman played more than five minutes more than any of his new teammates was because of his offensive instincts that Boudreau wanted to have on the ice as Washington tried to mount a comeback.

Capitals rally for a 2-1 overtime win over Islanders in new players' debuts 2011

Perhaps everyone was paying a little extra attention to the Capitals' newest acquisitions Tuesday night at Verizon Center but it was hard not to notice Jason Arnott, Dennis Wideman and Marco Sturm in their Washington debuts.

Capitals rally for a 2-1 overtime win over Islanders in new players' debuts 2011

Going forward, Wideman should expect to see better defensive support on the team level, which will surely impact his individual performance -- and plus-minus -- in a positive way.

Statistical analysis: A closer look at Dennis Wideman's plus-minus rating 2011

John Tavares took up residence next to the right goal post on the Islanders' power play and Wideman simply cross-checked him out of the crease, ending any potential threat he might pose.

Capitals rally for a 2-1 overtime win over Islanders in new players' debuts 2011

-Dennis Wideman led the Capitals in ice time with 26:44 including 3:39 on the power play, which was tied for the team high with Alex Ovechkin.

Capitals rally for a 2-1 overtime win over Islanders in new players' debuts 2011

As Wideman has played with worse teammates (Corsi Rel QoT) and the goalies behind him performed worse (On ice Sv%), his plus minus took a nose dive.

Statistical analysis: A closer look at Dennis Wideman's plus-minus rating 2011

On top of the offensive skill set he possesses, Wideman's defensive aptitude and willingness to play with a physical edge could be a definite advantage for the Capitals.

Capitals rally for a 2-1 overtime win over Islanders in new players' debuts 2011

Contributing to that surge is Nathan Horton, who went to Boston as part of a trade that sent Dennis Wideman to Florida last June.

Preparing for the Boston Bruins Katie Carrera 2010

In an effort to provide the team some insurance against a prolonged absence of Tom Poti and Mike Green, the Caps acquired Dennis Wideman from Florida for a third-round pick in 2011 and a prospect.

Statistical analysis: A closer look at Dennis Wideman's plus-minus rating 2011

Boudreau's take: I thought Dennis Wideman played with a lot of poise and he got shots through, which our defense hasn't been able to get shots through lately.

Capitals rally for a 2-1 overtime win over Islanders in new players' debuts 2011