The Rangers to action tonight at MSG, facing the 7-5-2 Sabres, who come in off a 9-2 win Saturday. Pavel Buchnevich, scratched the final two games of the team's recent four-game road trip, will be back in the lineup. Following tonight's game, the Blueshirts will welcome in the hot Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday.
Coach David Quinn made it very clear how he hopes Buchnevich reacted to the benching.
If Buch reacts as Quinn hopes he does, we should see a much better effort and a complete game from Buch, which hasn't been the case this season. He should be spitting fire and chomping at the bit to prove the coach wrong. We shall what happens. If he plays well and scores, it will be viewed as because of the benching. If neither occurs, then more criticism will be heaped on Buchnevich. Almost a no win situation for him.
“I hope he’s pissed, and I think he is,” Quinn said after Saturday’s practice. “I want everybody to be pissed when they don’t play. Now do something about it.”
Likely forward lines:
90 Namestnikov - 93 Zibanejad - 36 Zuccarello
20 Kreider - 13 Hayes - 89 Buchnevich
26 Vesey - 21 Howden - 17 Fast
8 McLeod/72 Chytil/95 Lettieri/23 Spooner
Buchnevich likely moves up to the second line in place of Spooner, though we could see the second trio remain intact with Buchnevich on the fourth line, though that's unlikely. The third line has been excellent recently and should remain as a trio; the same with the first line, as Namestnikov has turned his season around the past week or so. Chytil is the only given on the fourth line, since any of the three wingers could be scratched. My guess is that it will be McLeod, but woudn't be shocked if it was Spooner or Lettieri who sits.
(
Update-5:25PM: Spooner is out with a lower-body injury that is not considered serious. Buchnevich on the second line. McLeod-Chytil-Lettieri on the fourth line)
Boo Nieves, sidelined with a concussion since taking a hit from the Devils’ Eric Gryba back on Sept. 17, was cleared for contact and was a full participant in Saturday's practice. Nieves who remains on IR, likely will be sent down to Hartford once he is ready to go. But a few solid weeks in the minors could result in a promotion, as Nieves has shown he can be a solid bottom-six forward and Quinn has nice words about the center.
“Boo is a big body, he can skate. Good stick skills,” Quinn said. “I know him a little bit from afar, but [it’s unfortunate] I didn’t get to see a lot of him in camp. So for me, there is still a little bit of a feeling-out process. But I certainly like a guy with size that can skate.”
In addition, one name that we have mentioned a lot, Steven Fogarty, is playing extremely well in Hartford. Fogarty is up to 13 points in 13 games, has good size and can take draws, he should be in the mix soon for 4th line center role in New York soon. If New York decides to sit more of the veterans or send Chytil down to play top-six minutes, look for Fogarty to get the call.
Blueline:
18 Staal - 44 Pionk
76 Skjei - 77 DeAngelo
42 Smith - 22 Shattenkirk
Claesson, out since he suffered an upper-body injury on Oct. 17 that was supposed to keep him out two to three weeks, returned to practice Saturday in a non-contact jersey. Prior to the injury, Claesson had been playing well. When he is ready to return, the already crowded New York blueline will get even tighter. That also will be the case when Adam McQuaid is ready to rejoin the team from his injury, though he has now been downgraded to week-to-week. Both returning players, especially Claesson, could replace others in the current starting lineup, but I look for McQuaid to be the odd-man out while Claesson could slide in for any struggling blueliner. One other name to watch is Brandon Crawley, who has more points already this year (6 points in 8 games) than he had all of last year with the Pack.
Goalies:
30 Lundqvist
40 Georgiev
Henrik Lundqvist gets back between the pipes after ceding the net to Alexandar Georgiev on Thursday.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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