New York Rangers head coach David Quinn offered a straightforward explanation for his benching of forward Pavel Buchnevich during Monday's 5-3 loss to the Dallas Stars.
"I didn't like his game at all," Quinn said postgame, according to the New York Post's Brett Cyrgalis.
Buchnevich notched a power-play goal to open the scoring, but his ice time decreased as the game continued. After logging 8:17 in the opening frame, he played just 4:21 in the second period and 1:39 in the third, according to shiftchart.com.
The Rangers controlled just 40% of the shot attempts and 34.5% of the expected goals with Buchnevich on the ice. He was also credited with a giveaway.
Buchnevich isn't the first player to find himself in Quinn's doghouse this season, as fellow youngster Kaapo Kakko was also benched earlier in the campaign.
The 24-year-old Russian has recorded 10 goals and 28 points in 51 games this season after a 21-goal, 38-point campaign in 64 contests a year ago.
