Sometimes, the stars aren't the guys with the biggest name or the flashiest numbers.

Sometimes, especially with the Devils, the stars are the ones who roll up their sleeves and do all the dirty work night after night. Nothing fancy, mind you, just the things that win games and influence series.

And if these playoffs end Thursday night at Continental Arena, the spotlight should shine brightest on Devils' center Bobby Holik. He's the closest thing the Devils have to a dominant performer this postseason, and the man most worthy of the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Holik hasn't pumped in a ton of goals. In fact, eight other players, including three teammates, have scored more points this postseason.

But Holik's real value can't be summed in a tidy collection of numbers. Like Scott Stevens last season, Holik's performance has to be taken as a whole to be fully understood and appreciated.

In the opening round against the Carolina Hurricanes, Holik was the one who stepped up and provided the offensive juice when the Jason Arnott line struggled to get on track. All this while matching up against Rod Brind'amour, Carolina's most effective center and a Holik nemesis from way back.

Holik, like the rest of the Devils, was up and down during the Toronto series, but played a smart, tough defensive game. His grit was a necessity in that nastiest of series, and he only enhanced his reputation as the player the whiny Maple Leafs and their bellyaching boss, Pat Quinn, love to hate.

But Holik's best work was yet to come. He was a lightning rod during the Eastern Conference finals against the Pittsburgh Penguins, spearheading the effort that threw a blanket over superstar Mario Lemieux.

Lemieux, the man many people expected to dominate the series, didn't score a goal and had just three assists. He never got a chance to take control because Holik — rough, nasty, and resourceful — spent as much time as possible in his face.

That's the Holik that has to be seen to be appreciated. He doesn't kill penalties, so his reputation is strictly as an offensive forward, a guy who can center an offensive line and contribute on the power play.

But, next to John Madden — hands down the league's best defensive forward — and perhaps Jay Pandolfo, no Devils forward plays smarter defense than Holik. Certainly no one is tougher.

Holik is big, strong, and relentless, and he understands this team's system as well as anyone who has come through here since Jacques Lemaire taught these guys the art of defense. If you have watched him closely during these playoffs, you wonder why he doesn't get more votes for the Seike Trophy as the league's top defensive forward.

Is it a coincidence that the Devils didn't begin to put serious clamps on Colorado ace Joe Sakic until coach Larry Robinson relented and had Holik reprise the role he starred in against Lemieux? Sakic played the first three games like a man bound to dominate this series, but has had just six shots on goal and no goals since he started going head-to-head with Holik.

Sakic and Lemieux. Finalists for the Hart Trophy as NHL regular-season MVP. Both helpless in the face of Holik.

“I don't change how I play, whether it's Joe Sakic or someone else,” Holik said. “My job is to make their life miserable out there.

“Sakic has a great shot. He's got great speed. You have to keep him away from the puck or always keep your eye on him.”

Holik is the conscience of this team, the guy who stands up after every game and lays bare all his team's virtues and vices. One of his favorite sayings is that there's only one trophy he'll ever be interested in — the Stanley Cup, of course — and now that's within his grasp again.

But if the Devils bring home the hardware Thursday night, it will be a good bet that Holik has hounded Sakic into submission again. Stack that up alongside what he did to Lemieux and the way he performed through the first two rounds, and it spells MVP in bold, capital letters.

“The way Joe Sakic has been playing, he really is the best player in the league,” Holik said. “We're doing a good job, but that's not good enough. The job is not over.”.

No, but it's close. And it will be fun to watch Holik help them seal the deal.