Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was ejected from Tuesday night’s game against the Minnesota Wild for hitting Wild center Charlie Coyle in the face with his stick.
The incident happened during the first period of the game. Keith went down to the ice after being bodychecked by Colye. He then hit Coyle in the face with his stick, causing him to bleed, according to Yahoo Sports.
Keith was given a match penalty and was ejected from the game. Since Keith was given a match penalty he is suspended until the league reviews the play, ESPN notes.
"We miss guys all year long. I'm not worrying about hypotheticals," Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said about a possible multiple-game suspension for Keith.
Keith has been suspended before. In 2013, he was suspended for a “retaliatory” high-stick on Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter during the Western Conference Finals. He was also suspended for five games in 2012 for elbowing Vancouver Canucks winger Daniel Sedin in the head.
This season he has nine goals, 34 assists and 43 points, which leads all Blackhawks defensemen, according to USA Today.
Keith was offered an in-person hearing with the NHL’s Department of Player Safety on Wednesday, which means that he could be suspended for six or more games for the incident, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. He will have the right to appeal the suspension if it’s six games or more.
The Blackhawks are 44-26 and have clinched a spot in the playoffs.
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