Lukas Reichel ‘Really Excited’ To Make Bruins Debut Amid Playoff Push originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Former first-round pick and Olympian Lukas Reichel will be making his Boston Bruins debut on Thursday.
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Reichel struggled to crack the Chicago Blackhawks and was traded to the Vancouver Canucks earlier this season before being dealt to the Bruins at the NHL trade deadline.
Although Reichel was sent down to the AHL, he was recalled on an emergency basis on Wednesday and will make his Bruins debut on Thursday when Boston hosts the Winnipeg Jets.
“It feels good,” Reichel said. “I think the boys seem really nice. Can’t wait to get to know them a little bit more. Everyone met today. I’m really excited for the game and just can’t wait to get going. … Just use my speed and don’t be afraid to try something out there. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. For me, it’s just all about being good mentally, playing with energy, play to win. Play good defensively, too.”
Reichel is expected to play on the Bruins’ third line with Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie, as Mikey Eyssimont will be a scratch. Ahead of his Bruins debut, head coach Marco Sturm revealed his message to the Olympian.
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“Just kind of be himself,” Sturm said pregame on Thursday. “I don’t want him to be a hero tonight. I don’t want him to be any different. He’s here for a reason, because he will give us, hopefully, a little bit of speed and skill.
“He played some really good games in Providence. I like that. I think that’s where we’re always looking at calling guys up – they have to earn it. And I think he earned it down there for a few games, and that’s why he got the call-up.”
Puck drop between Winnipeg and Boston is set for 7 p.m. ET on Thursday, with pregame coverage beginning on NESN at 6 p.m. ET.
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