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MONTREAL — First came an experiment to see if the chemistry was still there. But now, the Rangers’ “KZB” line is back, and it’s hard to see coach Alain Vigneault splitting them up anytime soon.
The trio of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich did not take long to rekindle their on-ice relationship once they were reunited in Game 4 of their first-round series against the Canadiens. They were integral to that victory, which tied the series at two games apiece, just as they were in Game 5 on Thursday night at Bell Centre. That night, they combined for the overtime winner by Zibanejad to grab a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series; the Rangers have the chance to close out the Canadiens and advance with Game 6 on Saturday night at the Garden.
Game 4 was the postseason debut for Buchnevich, who was a scratch for the first three games of the series. But Vigneault needed more scoring and a more balanced lineup, and he thought bringing in the 22-year-old Russian rookie could awaken the distant memory of a line that worked so well early in the season.
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“That was part of the equation,” Vigneault said Friday at the team’s hotel. “We remembered that at some points during the season and early on they played together and they played well together. Good skill set, there was real good communication between the three.”
With Kreider’s speed and the play-making ability of both Zibanejad and Buchnevich, the skill on the line is indisputable. It was on display when they almost won the game earlier in overtime, when a tic-tac-toe passing play went from Buchnevich to Zibanejad to Kreider, who just whiffed on a wide-open chance in front.
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Consistency has been an issue for all three throughout the season — as well as for Kreider and Zibanejad in the first three games of the postseason. But they seem to have found something again, and it has created the offensive depth Vigneault wants — and needs — against the physically imposing Canadiens.
“I think if you look at our lineup now, we have four solid lines that can really create something offensively,” Zibanejad said. “It’s still a really good [Canadiens] team and they have a really good goalie, so they’ve been tight games. Not much offense, not much room for offense, really. But the four lines we have right now has been a threat.”
When Vigneault put Buchnevich in, that meant the physical Tanner Glass came out of the lineup after he had been one of the team’s best forwards in the first three games. It was a risk, but one the coach believed was worth taking with the history of chemistry to lean on.
“Putting Pavel in the last couple games has permitted us to continue to be physical, but maybe have just a little more skill on the ice,” Vigneault said. “It’s worked out for us so far.”