Buchnevich to return for Rangers against Senators

Pavel Buchnevich will return to the New York Rangers lineup Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre (2 p.m. ET; TVAS, TSN5, MSG, NHL.TV).
The forward has been sidelined with concussion symptoms. He was injured by a hit from Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jake Gardiner during the second period of a 4-0 loss at Madison Square Garden on Feb. 1. The 22-year-old is third on the Rangers with 32 points (13 goals, 19 assists) in 50 games.

"He's in," coach Alain Vigneault said after Buchnevich skated in a normal jersey at practice Friday. He played right wing on the second line with Michael Grabner at left wing and J.T. Miller at center.
Center Kevin Hayes (undisclosed) was given a maintenance day Friday and didn't practice. Vigneault said he is less than 50 percent to play. Defenseman Marc Staal, sidelined with a cervical strain, has been cleared for contact and practiced.
"I feel good. Probably need a few more skates in and see how it goes next week and try and get back in," Staal said. "Take it day by day, but I felt good today."
Backup goaltender
Alexandar Georgiev
was scheduled to make his first NHL start against Ottawa but missed practice with the flu and won't play. Vigneault said the Rangers will call up a goaltender before the game. Georgiev was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League on Feb. 10 after Ondrej Pavelec left a 4-3 win against the Calgary Flames on Feb. 9 with a knee injury.
The Rangers (27-26-5) have lost 12 of their past 17 games and are in last place in the Metropolitan Division, four points behind the Carolina Hurricanes for the second wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference.