CHICAGO -- Lukas Reichel made his season debut for the Chicago Blackhawks on Thursday night after he was a healthy scratch for the team's opening four-game trip.
Reichel skated for 8½ minutes during Chicago's 4-2 victory over San Jose in its home opener. He centered the team's fourth line in his 100th career game, playing alongside veteran forwards Pat Maroon and Craig Smith.
Coach Luke Richardson said he thought Reichel made some good plays.
"I thought he was, you know, hard in the faceoff circle," Richardson said. "He blocked a shot in the third period, and he was really showing initiative to take hard strides out there, whether it was tracking back, which helps our [defense], or on the offense and on the forecheck. So it was a good start for him."
Chicago also put Alec Martinez on injured reserve before the game. Fellow defenseman Isaak Phillips was recalled from Rockford of the AHL.
The 37-year-old Martinez, who skated in each of the team's first four games, has a right groin injury. He agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in free agency.
"I think a groin strain is what they listed it as," Richardson said. "It's been kind of nagging for a while, and then last game, just kind of reaggravated it a bit. So we have to just give him time."
Richardson had no update on goaltender Laurent Brossoit and defenseman Artyom Levshunov. Brossoit had meniscus surgery on his right knee on Aug. 27. Levshunov, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NHL draft, is coming back from a right foot injury.
"Both of them are just not ready to join the team in practice yet, but have been on the ice," Richardson said, "and will be back on the ice after a day or two off. I think they've been going pretty hard, and that's all I know there."
Reichel skated for 8½ minutes during Chicago's 4-2 victory over San Jose in its home opener. He centered the team's fourth line in his 100th career game, playing alongside veteran forwards Pat Maroon and Craig Smith.
Coach Luke Richardson said he thought Reichel made some good plays.
"I thought he was, you know, hard in the faceoff circle," Richardson said. "He blocked a shot in the third period, and he was really showing initiative to take hard strides out there, whether it was tracking back, which helps our [defense], or on the offense and on the forecheck. So it was a good start for him."
Chicago also put Alec Martinez on injured reserve before the game. Fellow defenseman Isaak Phillips was recalled from Rockford of the AHL.
The 37-year-old Martinez, who skated in each of the team's first four games, has a right groin injury. He agreed to a $4 million, one-year contract with the Blackhawks in free agency.
"I think a groin strain is what they listed it as," Richardson said. "It's been kind of nagging for a while, and then last game, just kind of reaggravated it a bit. So we have to just give him time."
Richardson had no update on goaltender Laurent Brossoit and defenseman Artyom Levshunov. Brossoit had meniscus surgery on his right knee on Aug. 27. Levshunov, the No. 2 overall pick in this year's NHL draft, is coming back from a right foot injury.
"Both of them are just not ready to join the team in practice yet, but have been on the ice," Richardson said, "and will be back on the ice after a day or two off. I think they've been going pretty hard, and that's all I know there."
