ST. LOUIS -- Like his teammates, Pavel Buchnevich had a tough time processing how the season ended for the St. Louis Blues.
Only it was more personal for the 30-year-old forward.
Buchnevich blamed himself for a decision in the final minute that he felt contributed to the Blues letting a two-goal lead --- including a one-goal lead in the waning seconds of regulation -- get away, ultimately resulting in a 4-3 double-overtime loss against the Winnipeg Jets in Game 7 of the Western Conference First Round.
Trying to end the game but instead icing the puck with roughly 45 seconds remaining in regulation and the Blues holding a 3-2 lead won't be soon forgotten for Buchnevich, who had a hat trick in Game 3 and finished with eight points in the series.
However it doesn't hide the fact the forward finished with 20 goals, his fifth straight season reaching the feat after a slow start to the regular-season. He finished with 57 points in 76 games, and with a new six-year extension at $8 million average annual value kicking in next season, plenty will be counted on Buchnevich moving forward.
He discussed the end of Game 7 and what the outlook is for the Blues moving forward:
Does that last play where they tie it in regulation stick with you?
Yeah, it's a tough play. I couldn't believe it happened honestly. It's just like, 'What's happened?' After you landed here, it's tough night. I couldn't fall asleep. I was like overthinking what I could do differently. You have to get through (it) and learn the lesson and get better next year.
How do you look at this season? So much got done, made such progress and for it to end on a lousy note?
After break, it brings excitement, how we grow as a team, how we play as a team. It's lots of good pieces on the team and a bright future. You're going to see that and how we can be successful as a team. We have to play as a team, just believe in the system and help each other out. The future (is) bright, like 'Tommer' say.
Guys talking two years ago about how attitude's got to change, culture's got to change. How far do you feel like it's come since then and what did it take to get there?
I think it's already changed. We go back to playing as a team, not like as player by player but as a a team. We have a good four lines and everybody rolling and basically doing the same thing. All of us play the system, whatever our coach ask. We know now it's working and we've got to get better. I'm a big believer as soon as you get confidence, confidence comes with the games (and) winning games, whatever goals, or whatever you make a play. You build confidence. As soon as you get confidence, like 'Tommer' says, it's going to like snowball. You know what you need to do and it's working. You keep rolling over and over and it's a big lesson this year. We've got to keep doing it.
Do you think what you've done the last couple months sped things up in terms of Doug Armstrong's vision to make some moves and compete sooner as opposed to later?
I think it's how the team play, winning games. How we perform on the ice is going to manage 'Army's decision, management's decision. Whether they do trades or improve the team or whatever. I just feel like from the league if you watch it, people want to be in successful organization, who winning games, who have a good team and who has a chance to win the Cup or whatever and be successful. I feel like if your team (is) good, people will want to come here. We just have to play better and basically make a message to Doug that we are ready.
On confidence easy to lose, tough to get back. How much confidence can you gain by taking Jets to seven games and what you accomplished this year?
Like I say, I feel like early in the season, it doesn't (do) good at home and lately we started winning the games and we make Enterprise Center back to like when it's tough to play. When I was playing in New York five, seven years ago, you come and you know what you are going to get. It's a hard battle, really hard battle. You can't get to the net and I feel like now we work as a team. Nobody wants to play against us and we've got to keep doing that and be tough to play against a team and we'll be fine.