Duncan Keith will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury believed to be his hand, which was hit with a shot last week against the Nashville Predators.
Keith made the Hawks’ recent two-game road trip to Florida but didn’t play in either game despite practicing. The Hawks didn’t skate Sunday morning at the United Center, but did do some team stretching drills and Keith didn’t appear to be participating.
In his place most likely will be 40-year old defenseman Sean O’Donnell, who will be paired with 20-year old puck-mover Nick Leddy . The pairing of Brent Seabrook and Niklas Hjalmarsson is being used as the top pair in Keith’s absence, with O’Donnell and Leddy the second pair over the boards.
“[Keith’s] not going tonight,” Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville said. “We’re looking for him on the next road trip.”
Chicago will hit the road for two games in St. Louis and Columbus this week before heading back to the United Center for a pair of games next weekend – which will lead into the annual “circus trip” that sends the Hawks to the West Coast and Western Canada.
