Far away from home, Pavel Buchnevich had spent nearly two seasons adjusting to North American life on and away from the rink without a fellow countryman with whom to navigate the transition from Russia.
But that has changed within the last few weeks for the 22-year-old winger, recently joined on the Rangers roster by Alexandar Georgiev and Vladislav Namestnikov.
“It’s much easier for me,” Buchnevich told The Post following Friday’s practice at home in advance of Saturday’s match in St. Louis. “I can talk to them in my first language and that way we can communicate and help each other.