Lukas Reichel continues to prove he is at least a good fourth-line player.
Craig Smith and Reichel have built up some awesome chemistry together. That is helping Reichel start to look more and more like a viable NHL player.
He certainly looked like the offensive phenom we were promised when the Hawks drafted him when he set up Smith for the first game-tying goal in the third period.
It was a thing of beauty to see Reichel confidently skate into the offensive zone, maintain the puck through a couple of chips, and then make the smooth dump-off pass to Smith, who fired a shot past Kuemper.
Reichel finished as the highest rated player according to Hockey Stat Cards.
Now, the debate will continue on whether Reichel should stay on the bottom line or if he should be given a long runway to see if he can reach his ceiling as a top-line player.
If this season is about improving the team's lot in the standings, it might be best to keep Reichel with Smith and see how much offense they can produce. Reichel does skate more confidently with Smith and Pat Maroon on the ice. Maybe it is because Maroon has the size, and Smith has the veteran savvy.
However, if Reichel is going to continue to generate offense, especially dishing out smooth passes that set up goals, you might want that skill set on the same line with Connor Bedard.
At least Reichel is proving he can play in the NHL. Something that could not be said last season.