With news breaking today that Mike Green should return to the Washington Capitals' lineup this weekend, news also broke that Dennis Wideman will miss the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Via Washington Post's Katie Carrera, head coach Bruce Boudreau said that he's "gotta believe" that Wideman will miss at least the first round after suffering a leg hemotoma when he collided with the Carolina Hurricanes' Tuomo Ruutu March 29.
"We don't know," Boudreau said when asked if there was any timeline for Wideman's return. "It's one of those things that, again, this time next week we'll know a lot more than we know now, but it depends on how his rehab goes and how quick he takes to it."
Wideman, who the Caps acquired from the Florida Panthers February 28, has one goal and six assists in 14 games with Washington. With Green out, Wideman filled his role as the puck-moving defenseman. And now that Wideman is out, Green will have more pressure on him to return to his All-Star form.