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Pavel Buchnevich is determined to score in his return to New York, where he was drafted in 2013 and played the first five seasons of his NHL career.
"I think everybody wants to score against their old team," Buchnevich told reporters after Wednesday's morning skate at Madison Square Garden. "Especially when I have a good buddy in net [Igor Shesterkin]. If I score, he's going to hear some jokes all day long."

Buchnevich has been fitting in well with the Blues since joining the team in the offseason. Lately, he's found himself at home playing with Robert Thomas and Vladimir Tarasenko, and that's where he's expected to be Wednesday when the Blues meet the New York Rangers for the first time in nearly two years (6:30 p.m. CT, TNT, 101 ESPN).
"I'm just happy to be coming back, excited for the game (with) a bunch of friends," Buchnevich said. "Excited to play again at MSG. Hopefully we have a great game, two great teams. Hopefully it's a fun game."
Blues Head Coach Craig Berube will have two lineup changes for Wednesday's game. Oskar Sundqvist, who was a last-minute scratch on Sunday in Chicago due to a lower-body injury, will return to the lineup Wednesday.
Dakota Joshua will also take Klim Kostin's spot on the fourth line with Sundqvist and Tyler Bozak.

Buchnevich returns to New York City

"(With) Dak, I just want to keep seeing him a little bit," Berube said. "He's got to be a physical player, use his size and strength and disrupt the other team as much as possible when he's out there. He's got the ability to skate and get in on the forecheck, take the body, get to the net, make it difficult on the other team."
Ville Husso is expected to start in goal.
Below is a complete projected lineup based on Wednesday's morning skate in New York.

PROJECTED LINEUP

Forwards
Saad - O'Reilly - Perron
Buchnevich - Thomas - Tarasenko
Kyrou - Schenn - Barbashev
Joshua - Bozak - Sundqvist
Defense
Mikkola - Parayko
Krug - Faulk
Walman - Bortuzzo
Goalie
Husso