The New York Rangers are scoring goals at an alarmingly high rate, having notched another five in Sunday’s 5-2 home victory against the Winnipeg Jets. Fives are wild for the Rangers, as it was the fifth straight game in which they scored at least five goals. Not coincidentally, it was their fifth consecutive win.
Overall, the Rangers are averaging a whopping 4.23 goals per game in 13 contests this season. While that pace will surely slow down, there is no reason to believe New York will not remain a prolific offensive club throughout the remainder of the regular season, thanks to its depth up front.
With their vast array of talented forwards, the Rangers never really need to have everyone finding the scoresheet at the same time. They were having no trouble finding the back of the net even with highly-touted 21-year-old Russian rookie Pavel Buchnevich failing to pot a goal of his own in the team’s first 11 games (which covered his first six games, as he missed five because of back spasms).
Now, Buchnevich has scored his first two goals of the season in consecutive games, and with the floodgates opening for him, the Rangers have yet another weapon in their arsenal.
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Buchnevich Gets on the Board
Up until Saturday night’s game in Boston, Buchnevich had been playing well and creating chances, but only had two assists in six games to show for his efforts. His first NHL goal seemed to be eluding him.
Finally, thanks to a nifty pass from Derek Stepan and a pretty shot from the right circle, Buchnevich lit the lamp for the first time in his NHL career. The power-play tally put the Blueshirts ahead 4-1 in a game they would ultimately win by a score of 5-2.
After the game, Buchnevich, who has been learning English ever since coming over to New York from Russia during the summer, expressed his joy over tallying his first goal in the NHL.
More Buch, w/o translator: “Step, good pass for me, I close eyes, it’s shot, score, score. It’s long games with no goal, no good for me.”
— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) November 6, 2016
One more from Buch, holding the puck: “It’s my dream, I think of my dad and mom…I spoke to him, they enjoy, no sleep, watch every game.”
— Steve Zipay (@stevezipay) November 6, 2016
Highlight-Reel Goal Against Winnipeg
With the chances Buchnevich had been generating, as well as his overall quality of play (underscored by his 59.2% Corsi-for percentage going into Sunday’s game), the goals were bound to come. Perhaps finally breaking through with his first one was the spark he needed to go on a scoring run.
That line of thinking was validated Sunday night, as Buchnevich not only scored again, but did so in spectacular fashion. With the Rangers fortunately ahead 4-2 in what was largely a sluggish five-games-in-eight-nights kind of effort, Buchnevich got everyone’s attention with a dazzling goal.
The dynamic winger showed off his slick hands and patience in getting through the Jets’ defenders before deking and out-waiting goaltender Michael Hutchinson for a pretty finish.
Buchnevich finding his scoring touch only exacerbates the massive matchup issue the Rangers present to their opponents. For opposing coaches, there is no one player or line to focus on shutting down with their top defenders, as the Rangers can roll four skilled lines.
New York has six players with at least 10 points so far this season. Another six have at least eight points. Buchnevich now has four points in eight games and is primed to keep piling them up, giving the club yet another offensive threat.