Bruins eye debut for Harris, Reichel
- The Boston Bruins prepared to change their lineup for Game 4 on Sunday, with forward Lukas Reichel and defenseman Jordan Harris skating in spots that had belonged to James Hagens and Mason Lohrei. - Coach Marco Sturm used Saturday’s practice to test Reichel on the third line and Harris beside Hampus Lindholm as Boston tried to erase Buffalo’s 2-1 series lead. - The shuffle came after Buffalo’s 4-3 Game 1 comeback and Boston’s 3-1 Game 3 loss, with the Bruins back in the playoffs after missing in 2024-25. (nhl.com)
The Bruins went into Game 4 against the Sabres with two lineup changes on deck: Lukas Reichel up front and Jordan Harris on defense. (nhl.com) Boston skated that look at Saturday’s practice, with Reichel replacing 19-year-old James Hagens on the third line and Harris stepping in for Mason Lohrei next to Hampus Lindholm. (boston.com) The timing was straightforward. Buffalo held a 2-1 lead in the first-round series entering Sunday’s 2 p.m. Eastern game at TD Garden after beating Boston 3-1 in Game 3. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2) Reichel was the forward change Boston chose after Hagens’ first taste of the National Hockey League playoffs. Hagens, the No. 7 pick in the 2025 draft, signed on April 8, debuted in the NHL on April 12, and had played five total NHL games before this scratch. (boston.com) (nhl.com) Sturm said Hagens “didn’t do anything wrong,” framing the move as a breather for a teenager rather than a demotion. Boston.com reported the coach expected to use him again later in the series. (boston.com) Reichel offered a different profile. Boston.com reported Sturm wanted more pace against Buffalo, and Reichel had three points in 10 regular-season games with the Bruins, including two in his Boston debut on March 19. (boston.com) Harris was the blue-line change. The Bruins’ practice report said the 25-year-old had been limited to eight regular-season games because of injury and had three points while practicing on the second pair with Lindholm. (nhl.com) That decision also reflected the series in front of them. Buffalo stunned Boston 4-3 in Game 1 with three goals in a 4:34 span late in the third period, then took Game 3 to put the Bruins behind again. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2) The Bruins are in this spot after a rebound year. They went 45-27-10, claimed the Eastern Conference’s first wild card, and returned to the postseason one season after missing the playoffs in 2024-25. (nhl.com) So Game 4 was not just about two new names on the lineup card. It was Boston trying fresh legs and a little more speed with the series already tilted toward Buffalo. (nhl.com 1) (nhl.com 2)
