Duncan Keith was offered an in-person hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety for his high-sticking match penalty against the Minnesota Wild on Tuesday night.
An in-person hearing means the infraction may require a suspension of six games or more. The Blackhawks have just five regular season games remaining.
Keith was assessed his match penalty for “intent to injure” 9:27 into the first period of the Blackhawks’ 4-1 loss to the Wild. After Charlie Coyle tripped Keith, the defenseman swung his stick and hit Coyle in the face. Coyle was bloodied but finished the game.