Blog Archives
Buchnevich has earned a spot on the Rangers’ top line
Bobby Bevilacqua
Pavel Buchnevich, Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad celebrate a goal in a preseason game against the Flyers. Photo courtesy of Bruce Bennett/Getty Images.
The three best forwards during the Rangers preseason all happened to play on the same line. Mika Zibanejad looks like everything Derick Brassard was plus more while Chris Kreider has been playing like a man on a mission, aggressively skating and looking to expand on two consecutive 20 goal seasons. But the biggest surprise has been rookie Pavel Buchnevich.
Buchnevich looks like a lock for the opening night lineup, marking an NHL debut for the 21 year-old after spending parts of the last four seasons in the KHL. Despite the culture shock that comes from moving to North America, as well as adapting to the smaller ice, Buchnevich has looked like a poised NHL veteran and looks ready to contribute with the Rangers.
While it was Harvard grad Jimmy Vesey that won the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award for the best Rookie at training camp, Buch had to be a close second. It took him until the final preseason game to score his first goal, but he could have had a lot more than that. In terms of creating chances, Buchnevich may have been one of the best at creating chances for others, putting himself in good positions, and getting shots on goal. If it wasn’t for the extraordinary play of some of the goalies that he faced, there probably would have been a few more goals on his stat sheet. He did finish with a goal and two assists in four games.
Hockey players are humans too
Bobby Bevilacqua
Hockey players are not just athletes, they’re normal people, and unfortunately fans did not acknowledge that when they turned their back to Tanner Glass. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
For those of you who don’t know, after a lot of the Rangers home games at Madison Square Garden, players will walk out of the front entrance to take pictures with fans and sign autographs. That’s how I met Mats Zuccarello and Mackenzie Skapski, and it can be a great way to interact with the Rangers players.
With that being said, there was a story that came out following Wednesday night’s loss to the Chicago Blackhawks. After the game, a few of the players decided to come out to interact with the waiting fans, and Tanner Glass was one of them.
Now it seems that Glass has become the Rangers fans’ whipping post, as he gets blamed for most of the goals against and losses, whether or not it is his fault. People expect him to score like Alex Ovechkin, when that is clearly not the type of player that he is, or ever has been. Read the rest of this entry
Kevin Klein out 3-4 weeks, maybe longer, with a broken arm
Bobby Bevilacqua
Kevin Klein will be out for 3-4 weeks after breaking his arm in Wednesday’s win over the Capitals. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Late in last night’s game, Kevin Klein was hit in the arm on a long Alex Ovechkin slap shot, causing him to drop to the ice in immediate discomfort. He left the game with less than a minute remaining, and received X-Rays before flying home.
Unfortunately, the Rangers received some bad news today, learning that Kevin Klein will be out for at least 3 to 4 weeks according to a press release from the Rangers.
Kevin Klein was in the midst of arguably his best season as a pro, already setting career highs in goals (9) and points (26), as well as a career best +24 – tied with Rick Nash for sixth best in the entire NHL. Read the rest of this entry
Beasts of the East; Rangers are number one after win over Capitals
Bobby Bevilacqua
Keith Yandle and Martin St. Louis celebrate Marty’s goal in the third period en route to the team’s third straight victory. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Ladies and gentlemen, introducing the first place New York Rangers.
Playing their second game in as many nights, the Rangers (42-17-7) picked up yet another crucial win, defeating Washington Capitals (36-22-10) by a score of 3-1, earning their third consecutive win in the process.
With the Islanders idle tonight, the two points that the Blueshirts earned gives them a total of 91 for the season. That means that for the first time, the Rangers have sole possession of first place in the Metropolitan Division, sitting one point ahead of the Islanders with three games in hand. Read the rest of this entry
Rangers take on the Capitals in D.C.; NHL’s leading goal scorers face off
Bobby Bevilacqua
Rick Nash had his first hat trick as a Rangers when these two teams last faced off, and is hoping to keep providing offensive support for the Rangers. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
After a huge win over the Islanders, the Rangers (41-17-7) will look to stay hot when they take on the Washington Capitals (36-21-10) at the Verizon Center in Washington D.C, another Metropolitan Division matchup.
The Rangers and Capitals have met just once this season, with the Rangers coming away with a 4-2 victory at Madison Square Garden. Rick Nash scored his first hat trick as a Ranger, and Derick Brassard had three assists. Henrik Lundqvist started, stopping 30 of the 32 shots that he faced.
The Rangers have been really successful against Metropolitan Division opponents, with a 17-3-1 record in their last 21 interdivisional games. The Rangers will take on the Capitals two more times this season after tonight. Read the rest of this entry
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