One of the several Bruins [team stats] players who has raised his profile and stock within the organization with his play in the first-round playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres is defenseman Matt Hunwick.

The second-year “offensive” defenseman struggled much of the season - like many of his teammates - with defensive-zone woes reducing his effectiveness as a puck-mover.

But Hunwick, given a far more important role late in the season when the Bruins lost three key blueliners, has seized the opportunity nicely and played very well against the Sabres.

Much sounder on the defensive side, he has also rediscovered his ability to make good breakout passes, and has regularly looked for chances to jump up and join the attack. In the first four games, he had 0-3-3 totals to aid the B’s 3-1 series lead.

“He’s played very well,” general manager Peter Chiarelli said prior to last night’s 3-2 double overtime win in Game 4. Hunwick assisted on David Krejci’s first goal. “He’s gotten his confidence back.”

That was true of the entire team, as it put a stranglehold on the best-of-seven series with the win over the Sabres. It took the B’s most of the season to play consistently - with the same kind of effort and concentration that led to 116 points last season - but better late than never.

“Last year, we had long stretches where we just didn’t lose,” Hunwick said. “To go out night after night and have that hunger the way we did was very special. Maybe this year we lacked a little focus at times. After a win too many times we’d come out and lay an egg.

“But this is playoff time. Everyone is really focused and hungry to go out and prove people were wrong about us; that we’re better than our record showed this year.

“That’s the greatest thing about playoffs: Everyone starts with a clean slate.

“Every year you go in hoping to make the playoffs. The goal is to give yourself a chance to play for the Stanley Cup. The regular season wasn’t as good as last year, but if we can go out and have a better playoffs than a year ago, it could make the whole year worthwhile.”