Lukas Reichel will draw back into the Chicago Blackhawks lineup after a one-game healthy scratch, but he’ll have to work his way back up from the fourth line.
“Get back to work, play a good game,” Reichel said Tuesday.
He was a healthy scratch for the first time this season Sunday against the Minnesota Wild.
“He just needs to re-evaluate his game,” coach Luke Richardson said. “I think he needed to take a step back and look at it. We had a good chat this morning about him just coming to work and not worrying about where he is in the lineup and working his way up.
“Hopefully he gets some chance on the power play. I think he knows if he can get his game going and get his skating going, he’ll get rewarded and move up when he has an opportunity.”
Reichel has been mired in a season-long offensive slump, though he’s played on the top line with Connor Bedard and Philipp Kurashev and on the second line with Taylor Raddysh and Tyler Johnson.
“Yeah, it’s disappointing,” Reichel said. “But I know I’ve got to be better. I don’t play my game right now but it’s a good wake-up call.”
He’s had just two goals and four assists in 22 games, so his benching couldn’t have come as a total shock.
“I mean, not surprised,” Reichel said, “but I was definitely a little shocked at first, but they talked to me a little bit (about) what I’ve got to do better and that’s what I’m trying to do.”