When the Chicago Blackhawks open the Stanley Cup playoffs they will be without the services of their best defenseman for the first game.
The league announced Friday evening that Duncan Keith has been suspended for six games for a high-sticking incident involving Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle earlier this week. After an altercation that resulted in Coyle knocking Keith to the ice, Keith swung his stick at Coyle’s head and hit him directly in the face causing a pretty sizable cut on his nose.
Coyle was eventually able to return to the game, while Keith was given a match penalty and ejected from the game.
The six-game suspension means that Keith will miss the Blackhawks’ final five games of the regular season, including Friday’s game in Winnipeg, as well as Game 1 of the first round of the Western Conference playoffs where the Blackhawks will likely play either the Dallas Stars or St. Louis Blues.
Here is the NHL’s explanation.
It is the second time in his career he has been suspended for a play just like this after earning a one-game suspension during the 2013 playoffs for high-sticking Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter.
He will lose $148,883.35 in salary as a result of the suspension.
Charlie Coyle after he was high-sticked by Duncan Keith. (USATSI)
