Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith was suspended six games Friday for high-sticking Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle.
Keith was assessed a match penalty for the stick-swinging incident midway through the first period of Chicago’s 4-1 loss to Minnesota Tuesday.
The suspension means Keith will miss the final five game of the regular season plus the first game of the Blackhawks’ post-season.
The Winnipeg native was offered an in-person hearing by the NHL’s department of player safety on Wednesday, which meant his suspension could exceed five games. He elected to have his hearing over the phone instead. That hearing took place Friday afternoon.
This is the third suspension of Keith’s NHL career.
The 32-year-old was given five games in 2012 for an elbow to the head of Vancouver Canucks forward Daniel Sedin.
In 2013, Keith was suspended one game for a high stick to the face of Jeff Carter during Game 3 of the Western Conference final against the Los Angeles Kings.
Chicago (44-26-7) is currently third in the Western Conference’s Central Division with 95 points.
Keith has nine goals and 34 assists in 67 games this season.