Ben Pope
Chicago Blackhawks reporter
Ben Pope covers the Chicago Blackhawks for the Chicago Sun-Times.
After his healthy scratch Sunday, Reichel was reinserted in a fourth-line role Tuesday. He was better, albeit hardly dominant. He’ll have to play with more tenacity and confidence moving forward.
The young goalie finally got some goal support Tuesday, but he allowed three goals off rebounds before struggling in the shootout as the Hawks fell 4-3 to the Predators.
For as mature as the Hawks’ rookie sensation is off the ice, he does occasionally show some emotion on the ice. But it never lingers into his next shift or into the next day.
Dach’s first pro season is off to a great start. He ranks fourth among all AHL rookie forwards in points per game (with 12 points in 13 games) while playing with an edge.
The Hawks’ 4-1 defeat Sunday concluded a three-game road trip in which they didn’t score a single goal when Connor Bedard wasn’t on the ice.
After 22 games of struggles — with only six points and no even-strength goals — Reichel sat out Sunday against the Wild. “He needs to ... come back with a little bit of fire,” coach Luke Richardson said.
Beauvillier, making his Hawks debut after a trade from the Canucks, played well on the top line Saturday. But Bedard’s tally went down as the Hawks’ only goal in a 3-1 loss.
Isaak Phillips also went down to Rockford with Kaiser, while Louis Crevier was called up to the NHL for the first time. Jarred Tinordi’s activation off injured reserve sparked the shuffle Saturday.
“It’s of course [had] an effect on myself and my family, but...it’s out of our control,” Bedard said Friday in Winnipeg.