Pavel Buchnevich’s face said it all.
It was a heavy burden to bear, a streak of nine straight games without a single point he had carried with him since his last goal on Nov. 29 against Boston. Friday night, however, even though the Rangers lost 6-3 to the Maple Leafs at the Garden, Buchnevich ended that drought, breaking through with a goal and an assist.
Before the game, coach David Quinn said he felt Buchnevich was playing at his best. The coach agreed with the notion it would take just one contribution to the score sheet and the floodgates would open for Buchnevich.