The Blackhawks are making a couple lineup changes for their home opener on Thursday night. Lukas Reichel will make his season debut at center on the fourth line between Pat Maroon and Craig Smith. And Nolan Allan will draw into the lineup for Alec Martinez, who is dealing with a lower body issue.
First, on the blue line, Blackhawks head coach Luke Richardson said Martinez will be evaluated further later today by the team’s doctors and then they’ll have more of an update. Allan played in the season opener in Utah. Based on the morning skate, Wyatt Kaiser will skate with TJ Brodie and Allan will be with Connor Murphy.
Reichel Returns
Reichel spoke with the media after the Blackhawks morning skate. He admitted he was pissed that he hadn’t been able to get into the lineup yet, but understands the opportunity before him tonight. He needs to make a good impression and play with the same “selfish” play he showed in the preseason finale in Milwaukee (he used the word selfish, which I used before the season last year regarding his play).
Richardson said Reichel moving into the lineup as a center on the fourth line is simply a matter of that being the opportunity that’s available for him at this time, not that center is something they’re really thinking could be a long-term play. Richardson noted that Reichel has had more success at the NHL level on the wing.
The Blackhawks head coach also said San Jose being a more up-and-down style of play made this a good opportunity for Reichel to draw in.