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.