New York Rangers analysis: First line leads Rangers to victory over Buffalo

Nash, Buchnevich showcasing chemistry

The New York Rangers have won back-to-back games in regulation for the first time in over a month. Those victories are in large part due to top-line wingers Rick Nash and Pavel Buchnevich.

Since Buchnevich’s return to the lineup after weirdly being healthy scratched, he’s been skating with Nash and Zibanejad. Nash has scored four goals and one assist while Buchnevich has a goal and two assists in the last two games. He also created the play that resulted in Nash’s second goal against Buffalo, though a Ryan McDonagh deflection in front kept Buchnevich off the scoresheet.

The creativity and vision of Buchnevich have been on full display in those two games, too. He twice found Nash for breakaway goals, including a beautiful area pass less than two minutes into the game on Thursday.

Even before the game on Thursday, the line was simply dominant in all aspects of the game.

Zibanejad has only one assist in the last two games but has worked well with Buchnevich and Nash on the forecheck and setting up a cycle down low in the offensive zone. In a little over 20 minutes of 5v5 ice time, the line has scored five goals and given up zero.