Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith tried as hard as he could to prove his innocence and remorse, but it just wasn’t enough for the NHL.
Keith was suspended Wednesday for one game by the league for a high-sticking of Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter in Game 3 of the Western Conference finals. The two players got tangled up behind a play in the Kings’ eventual 3-1 Game 3 win, and that’s when things got testy.
The stickwork led to Keith losing his glove. As he went to pick it up, Carter looked to either try to move it away with his stick or he may have even slashed Keith’s hand. That led Keith to take a one-handed slash up near the face of Carter that left him with stitches. Keith immediately appeared to apologize, but it was too little too late apparently. NHL director of player safety Brendan Shanahan announced the decision Wednesday night.
“It should also be noted that even if Carter chopped down on Keith’s hand, that still doesn’t justify the extent of Keith’s actions,” Shanahan said in the video.
Shanahan also indicated that Carter’s injury and Keith’s status as a previous offender factored into the decision.
See more in the video below from the NHL.
