NEW YORK — Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was suspended for five games without pay by the NHL on Friday for elbowing Vancouver Canucks star Daniel Sedin in the head.
Keith lunged at Sedin in the neutral zone in the first period of Chicago’s 2-1 overtime victory Wednesday night, hitting Sedin in the head. Sedin didn’t have the puck at the time.
Keith was given a minor penalty for elbowing. The suspension will cost him $149,688.
“We respect the league’s decision and move forward from this point on and try to renew a playoff position and secure the highest seeding possible,” Canucks assistant general manager Laurence Gilman said. “That being said, our priority, obviously, is Daniel’s health.”
Sedin missed the Canucks’ victory Thursday night in Dallas because of a suspected concussion. He has 30 goals and 37 assists in 72 games this season.
Gilman declined to update Sedin’s condition.
“That’s not something we’re divulging to the public,” Gilman said.
The Canucks face the Avs tonight at the Pepsi Center.
Gilman also declined to discuss what the team thought about the incident and the length of the suspension, adding that there was due process in the decision.
“It’s time for us to look forward and not look back,” he said.
Keith’s hit on Sedin came five minutes after Sedin’s unpenalized hard check of Keith into the boards.
“Everything happens fast,” Keith said. “Obviously, it’s a heated rivalry that has a lot of attention.”
