Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith has been suspended for six games after his slash to the face of Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle on Tuesday night. He will miss the remaining five games of the regular season plus game 1 of the Western Conference Quarterfinals.
Chicago’s Duncan Keith suspended six games for high sticking on Minnesota’s Charlie Coyle. https://t.co/VQFcAr6NWg
— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) April 1, 2016
The reigning Conn Smythe trophy winner was knocked to the ice by Coyle after his stick was entangled around the back of Keith’s legs. In response, Keith swung his own stick towards Coyle’s head while he was lying on the ice. Coyle’s nose was cut from the impact, but was not broken. He sported a black eye and a pair of stitches the following morning.
Keith was assessed a match penalty for intent to injure after the incident occurred 9:27 into the first period. He was ejected from the game and suspended indefinitely pending a hearing with the National Hockey League. The NHL offered Keith an in-person hearing, meaning that the suspension could be six games or more. He exercised his right to decline the in-person hearing to conduct it over the phone, speeding up the process.
This is the third time the 32-year-old has been suspended in his NHL career. It also isn’t the first time that Keith’s been reprimanded for a retaliatory action. He was suspended for one playoff game after swinging his stick towards Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter and striking him in the face during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals in 2013. Carter had slashed Keith’s exposed hand (which was reaching for his glove) beforehand.
After elbowing Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin in the head in 2012, Keith was suspended five games.
Keith will serve the first game of his suspension tonight as the Blackhawks take on the Jets in Winnipeg. The Stanley Cup Playoffs begin on April 13th.
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