8 AWAY | Return boosts defense as tough trip begins
The Blackhawks won't have it easy the next two weeks with eight straight road games, but at least they'll have Duncan Keith back. The tireless defenseman missed the last four games before the All-Star break, and the Hawks weren't much good without him.
Keith took a hard hit from Buffalo's Drew Stafford on Jan. 14, and while he was out to allow concussion-like symptoms to dissipate, the Hawks went 1-2-1, losing their last two games at home. Before Keith went down, the Hawks were 14-1-5 at the United Center.A six-day break was apparently just what Keith needed because he was his usual high-flying self once practice resumed Monday in Bensenville.
''I'm ready to play,'' he said. ''I feel good.''
Keith skated before the break but didn't feel ready to play. He took advantage of the time off last weekend.
''It was nice to get away from the rink,'' he said. ''I was in the gym, and that helped me.''
Winger Adam Burish said Keith refused to leave Chicago during the break.
''He stuck around and really wanted to make sure he was ready when we came back,'' Burish said. ''He was a huge loss. He's our backbone back there, the veteran guy. He's playing against top lines every night. When you miss a guy like that, it's hard.
''Plus, he has that quirky, fun attitude in the locker room, too. Getting him back will be a big boost for this club.''
No Hawk puts in the ice time that Keith does. In 41 games this season, he has averaged 25 minutes, 36 seconds, and he'd probably be over 26 minutes had he not taken Stafford's hit in the middle of the second period. He's also a team-best plus-23.
Before the recent four-game absence, Keith had missed only one game in 3? seasons with the Hawks.
''It was frustrating, but sometimes you need to step back,'' Keith said. ''I learned a few things from watching. Hopefully I can be better down the stretch and help the team make the playoffs. It's time to put the work boots on now. We've got a tough road ahead, but we're looking forward to that challenge.''
Though Keith is back, the Hawks aren't injury-free. Rookie winger Kris Versteeg likely will be sidelined tonight after suffering a finger injury in the last game before the break.
Though he was selected to play in the YoungStars game during All-Star weekend, Versteeg watched from the bench for fear of aggravating the injury. He skated before practice Tuesday but didn't work out with the team.
If Versteeg can't go tonight, Pascal Pelletier, who was called up from Rockford on Monday, will get into his second game of the season. He'll probably play on the fourth line, with Ben Eager moving into Versteeg's spot.
The Blackhawks won't have it easy the next two weeks with eight straight road games, but at least they'll have Duncan Keith back. The tireless defenseman missed the last four games before the All-Star break, and the Hawks weren't much good without him.
Keith took a hard hit from Buffalo's Drew Stafford on Jan. 14, and while he was out to allow concussion-like symptoms to dissipate, the Hawks went 1-2-1, losing their last two games at home. Before Keith went down, the Hawks were 14-1-5 at the United Center.A six-day break was apparently just what Keith needed because he was his usual high-flying self once practice resumed Monday in Bensenville.
''I'm ready to play,'' he said. ''I feel good.''
Keith skated before the break but didn't feel ready to play. He took advantage of the time off last weekend.
''It was nice to get away from the rink,'' he said. ''I was in the gym, and that helped me.''
Winger Adam Burish said Keith refused to leave Chicago during the break.
''He stuck around and really wanted to make sure he was ready when we came back,'' Burish said. ''He was a huge loss. He's our backbone back there, the veteran guy. He's playing against top lines every night. When you miss a guy like that, it's hard.
''Plus, he has that quirky, fun attitude in the locker room, too. Getting him back will be a big boost for this club.''
No Hawk puts in the ice time that Keith does. In 41 games this season, he has averaged 25 minutes, 36 seconds, and he'd probably be over 26 minutes had he not taken Stafford's hit in the middle of the second period. He's also a team-best plus-23.
Before the recent four-game absence, Keith had missed only one game in 3? seasons with the Hawks.
''It was frustrating, but sometimes you need to step back,'' Keith said. ''I learned a few things from watching. Hopefully I can be better down the stretch and help the team make the playoffs. It's time to put the work boots on now. We've got a tough road ahead, but we're looking forward to that challenge.''
Though Keith is back, the Hawks aren't injury-free. Rookie winger Kris Versteeg likely will be sidelined tonight after suffering a finger injury in the last game before the break.
Though he was selected to play in the YoungStars game during All-Star weekend, Versteeg watched from the bench for fear of aggravating the injury. He skated before practice Tuesday but didn't work out with the team.
If Versteeg can't go tonight, Pascal Pelletier, who was called up from Rockford on Monday, will get into his second game of the season. He'll probably play on the fourth line, with Ben Eager moving into Versteeg's spot.
