The Chicago Blackhawks will be short one man after Duncan Keith was reprimanded for high-sticking Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter in the face.
The NHL announced Wednesday night that Keith will be missing Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals for his choice of retaliation on Carter. The hit came after Carter and Keith had a brief scuffle near the Blackhawks net in Game 3 at the Staples Center. Keith lost his stick and glove during the shoving match. Carter proceeded to skate away from him as he recovered his belongings.
As Carter lowered his stick to the ice, Keith claimed that he believed the Kings star was trying to slap his hand. Keith responded by swinging his stick, which struck Carter in the face, causing a 20-stitch cut below his lip and lacerations inside his mouth. Carter underwent dental work following the game as well. The Blackhawks lost the game, 3-1.
Brendan Shanahan, senior vice president of player safety, said in a video issued by the Department of Player Safety that Keith's hit was unjustifiable and not a part of fair play.
"This is more serious than a case of a player simply having to be responsible for his stick It is not an accidental high stick nor is it a defensive high-stick to an opponent. This is a retaliatory high-stick to an opponent that causes an injury," Shanahan said in the video. "It should also be noted that even if Carter did indeed chop down on top of Keith's hand, that still does not justify the extent of Keith's actions."
Keith told reporters after the game that he did not mean any harm to Carter, though he did concede to willingly swinging his stick in anger. He said he did not intend to hit him in the face so aggressively, adding that he was happy to see Carter well enough to return to the game later. Keith also apologized immediately following the hit as Carter picked himself up off the ice.
"I wanted to give him a tap, but not where I got him," Keith said. "I'm glad to see that he came back."
During the game, Keith received a double minor penalty for high-sticking. Carter said of the hit at a press conference that it was not his nor his teammates' primary concern at the moment.
"There's bigger things to worry about right now. We're in a fight here and down two games to one. I don't think that's on our minds," Carter said.
This is the second series in the postseason where a hit on a Kings player has resulted in suspension. Raffi Torres of the San Jose Sharks was suspended the remainder of the Western Conference Semifinals following a check to the head on Kings forward Jarret Stoll, which resulted in a concussion. The Kings defeated the Sharks in seven games.
The Blackhawks lead the series, 2-1. The Kings and Blackhawks face off Thursday for Game 4 at Staples Center at 9 p.m. EST.
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