There have been leaks in Pavel Buchnevich’s game over the last half-dozen or so games, and it’s enough to have earned a fourth-line assignment at the end of Friday’s 1-0 loss to the Bruins. , which meant two changes worth 1:46 of time in the last 11 minutes.
The winger, who has skated most of the last two seasons to the right of Mika Zibanejad in the center and Chris Kreider on the left flank, has scored a goal in the last 11 games entering Tuesday’s clash against the well-rested Devils. It was an empty net against the Chiefs in the 4-2 win on February 4 that represents the Blueshirts ’last win.
The lack of production makes Buchnevich stand out. In fact, he would fit in with the crowd that entered Tuesday’s game after scoring both times in 181:23, as the number 89 put the puck in the unoccupied cage. These are other elements of the game that David Quinn cited in his pre-game video conference to explain why Buchnevich was abandoned in order.
“I thought he was our best striker for seven or eight games and then there was a drop in his game,” the coach said. “The consistency of what he was doing at the beginning of the year, where there was a constant effort, a constant advantage in his game.”
The translation is that Quinn doesn’t see the same level of hardness on the record, the diligence away from the record and the competition in battles when the Rangers try to make their way through this production desert.
“He’s fallen a little bit and I think he’s been a little frustrated from an offensive perspective, which can get into other areas of people’s games,” Quinn said. “It simply came to our notice then.
“It simply came to our notice then [against the Devils] and at some point in time we can reward people [who are] playing better “.
Here’s the thing, though. Buchnevich’s average ice time of 20:00 per game, which ranks 30th among NHL strikers, should probably be reduced regardless of his production or competition off the record. He has been on the supposed front line with Zibanejad and (especially) Kreider, has been involved in the power play and has been in the first tandem of killing penalties.
Its 20:00 represents a jump of 18.1%. from 16:56 last season. This is a notable addition to Buchnevich’s workload which, for the first time in his NHL career, has included working with the abbreviated unit. Twenty-five-year-old Russian has been very good at this, even through this piece of offense. In fact, Buchnevich has been in a position of just three goals against at 35:25 and has been in the least shots against every 60 minutes of any Blueshirt striker.
Perhaps the drop in the end in the physical game coincides with the extra ice time. No offense (alternative meaning), but we’re not talking about a physical specimen at all either. However, it should be noted that Buchnevich was there, front and center, to challenge Brad Marchand when the Boston winger tried to take some liberties with Artemi Panarin after the No. 10 returned to the ice on February 10 after sitting down. for a long stretch with an unidentified lower body injury that has sidelined him ever since. It should also be noted that Buchnevich intervened and exchanged punches with Boston defender Jeremy Lauzon two nights later.
The bigger picture, though, is this: Quinn is one of those coaches who likes to ride horses, one of whom he has identified as Buchnevich this season. Edmonton’s Dave Tippett walks through Connor McDavid, Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, the trio among the top eight NHL strikers during the ice-middle time. Sheldon Keefe of The Maple Leafs rides Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews, first and fourth, respectively. Ralph Krueger of the Sabers rides Jack Eichel, Sam Reinhart and Taylor Hall, all three between 10th and 18th ahead.
Quinn and the Rangers? Panarin is 14th, Zibanejad is 16th and Buchnevich is 30th. This doesn’t seem excessive, certainly not for a heavy, shallow team, but it sure can be when the tent boys act like players. This has not been the case last year, when Panarin and Zibanejad alternated with the offense from start to finish.
The continued absence of Filip Chytil, sidelined since suffering an unidentified injury in Pittsburgh on Jan. 24 and not yet skating, has highlighted a lack of depth. This has meant a double mess for the team and the coach, which has not borne fruit in doubling the most important boys. Prior to New Jersey, the Rangers had scored 19 goals in five against five in their 13 games, amounting to 1.46 per. Only the Sabers, at 1.36 percent, have been worse.
So if Quinn plans to give more ice to players who “play better,” maybe the time is not only near, but maybe it would have already arrived.