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 The NHL Department of Player Safety announced that Keith will sit
out the final five regular-season games and the post-season opener
for swinging a stick at Minnesota Wild forward Charlie Coyle in a
contest between the teams on Tuesday.
Keith received a five-minute major and match penalty for intent to
injure during the game when he hit Coyle with a high stick in the
face. Coyle required stitches to close a cut on his nose but later
returned to the ice.
The 32-year-old Keith waived his right to a personal hearing with
the league in New York and a phone interview was conducted on Friday
afternoon.
 Keith will not be paid during his suspension, which amounts to a
loss of roughly $148,883 in earnings for a player who is not
considered a repeat offender but has been disciplined before.
He drew a one-game suspension in the 2013 Western Conference finals
for a high stick against Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter and
was forced to sit out five games in 2012 for elbowing Vancouver
Canucks forward Daniel Sedin.
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In 67 games this season, Keith has 43 points and averages 25 minutes
of ice time. He was sidelined for 10 games earlier in the campaign
with a lower-body injury.
The Blackhawks, who have already secured a playoff berth, beat the
Winnipeg Jets 5-4 after overtime on Friday to remain in third place
in the Central Division.
(Writing by Benjamin Everill; Editing by John O'Brien)
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