Russian rook shows moxie with rare fight

There of all people was Pavel Buchnevich dropping his gloves to square off with Calgary’s Kris Versteeg 4:50 into the third period Sunday of what was then a 2-2 match at the Garden that would become a 4-3 victory for the Rangers.

And here is the origin of the scrap as told to The Post by the Blueshirts’ rookie from Russia: “Chopping me with stick. He say, ‘Yes.’ I say, ‘No.’ He say, ‘Yes.’ I say, ‘Yes.’ ”

So the two went at it briefly after Versteeg did indeed initiate the encounter with a two-hander and another hard chop across No. 89’s torso shortly after the faceoff that followed the Flames’ tying goal at 4:40. The Calgary winger, who would get a game misconduct because his jersey was not tied down, threw a couple of ineffectual quick ones before the enemy combatants tumbled to the ice when Buchnevich lost his balance after tripping over his stick.

Alain Vigneault laughed long and hard — “Aahahaahaa” is about the translation of the coach’s immediate reaction — when asked for his take on the scuffle.

“I’m not sure that was the definition of a fight, but I do think it’s great,” said the coach, whose team faces the Ducks at the Garden on Tuesday. “It wasn’t really fair, Versteeg didn’t have his sweater tied, and as soon as he pushed [that was it]. It sort of felt we were back in the ’80s when that was the constant way of fighting.

“But you’ve got to stand up for yourself and be accounted for and I think that’s what Pavel was doing. That means there’s a lot of heart there and definitely something to work with.”

Marc Staal, who missed Monday’s practice after reporting to the rink still feeling the effects of the flu that limited him to one shift over the final 13:00 on Sunday, is questionable for Tuesday. If the alternate captain, who has played three games after missing nine with post-concussion symptoms, cannot go, Nick Holden will switch to the left side while Adam Clendening rejoins the lineup.