Three Takeaways as the New York Rangers exact perfect revenge over Isles

2. Buchnevich on the cusp of a breakout

When writing my Four Big Questions for the New York Rangers in our team-by-team Season Previews, I mentioned that Pavel Buchnevich could be set for a breakout year after really impressing in Training Camp. Well, and although a very small sample size, it could well happen.

The forward was sensational in this big win over the Islanders with a three-point night (2 G, 1 A), including scoring big goals at key moments in the game. For instant, Buchnevich scored the first goal of the game at 2:12 in the first period that really swung the momentum in the Rangers’ favor and set the tone for the rest of the contest.

It was a beautiful goal too as Mika Zibanejad forced a turnover on the boards before dishing the puck to Buchnevich on a 2-on-1, with the Russian doing the rest by biding his time before ripping a sensational shot past Ilya Sorokin to give his team a vital lead, one they never let go off. Buchnevich’s second goal of the game was also a beauty after he picked up a loose puck before entering the zone and ringing a wrister in off the post.

He also claimed an assist on Artemi Panarin’s power play goal in the third period, and the 25-year-old finished with 20:36 of ice time, third most among Rangers forwards, a bunch of time on the power play and 3:55 of shorthanded time too. Basically, Pavel Buchnevich is rounding out his game nicely while displaying a real clinical touch in the offensive zone and, if he continues on this upwards trajectory, then the New York Rangers could have one hell of a well-rounded player on their hands.

1. Georgiev staking a claim

Much of the talk revolving around the New York Rangers during the offseason was based on the new King in town in Igor Shesterkin, who proved in a small sample size in 2019-20 that he was the true heir to Henrik Lundqvist‘s throne.

With The King gone, many believed it would be the Shesterkin show at Madison Square Garden in 2020-21 and, while that may still be the case, don’t forget about Alexandar Georgiev who is a very good goalie in his own right too.

The 24-year-old was huge for the Blueshirts last year when he was called upon and, given the start against the Islanders on Saturday after Shesterkin endured a rough outing in the first game, Georgiev truly showed everyone what he was really capable of.

The goalie stopped all 23 shots for his first shutout of the year, giving him a 6-2 lifetime record against the New York Islanders with two shutouts. And it wasn’t just how good Georgiev was in this game, but also just how confident he appeared between the pipes.

He made some huge stops early on which then allowed his teammates the opportunity to strike first, making 10 saves in the first period in total and his back-to-back stops to deny Cal Clutterbuck and Nick Leddy early on was probably his best work of a perfect night.

Alexandar Georgiev was just a rock for his team and, as he has proven during his short career so far, he seems to love playing against the New York Islanders and was a real thorn in their side once again, doing whatever he had to do to ensure that his team got their first win of the 2020-21 season.

And, in a year where goalie tandems will be more important than ever, the New York Rangers will need Alexandar Georgiev to be ready at all times and come in and win a game or two for his team, just as he did on Saturday, making a real statement in the process that he should also be considered a true No. 1 starter in his own right.