Saturday’s game against the Panthers in Sunrise, Florida, will be exactly four weeks to the day from when Pavel Buchnevich suffered a broken left thumb in the Rangers’ 5-4 shootout victory over the Blue Jackets.
Coach David Quinn said at Tuesday's practice that it was possible Mats Zuccarello, Vladislav Namestnikov and Buchnevich could return on Saturday. Given the announced 4-6 week timetable for the Buchnevich's injury, his return would be at the front end of the estimate, and, according to Quinn, it would not be a moment too soon.
“We need him,’’ Quinn said of Buchnevich after the Rangers’ practice on Tuesday.