Yawney: Keith's work ethic helped him rise to the top

SAN JOSE, Calif. - If Sharks assistant coach Trent Yawney had a Norris Trophy vote it would go to Duncan Keith.

It was Yawney who helped to teach Keith and Brent Seabrook how to play defense professionally when he had both of them in the minors at Norfolk years ago.

"I don't know if I saw the Norris Trophy in terms of Duncan Keith's immediate future," Yawney said. "I think Dunc deserves a lot of credit for his ability to take in information and apply it to his game.

"Everybody sees his skill, but he was a tremendous hard worker. I think Seabrook and him really complement each other, and I see them as defensive pair. Two are only good if two work as one, and they really work well together. They just can read off each other.

"Brent's a great passer of the puck and can slow the game down to his pace and, obviously, Dunc has got the quickness and is a really good defender," Yawney said.

"He takes away ice better than most in the league, and now he's added that offensive side of his game. He's the whole package."

Keith is a finalist for the Norris Trophy along with Washington's Mike Green and the Kings' Drew Doughty.

"I'm biased," Yawney said. "As much as you're on the opposition you want to see players you've had in the past succeed."

Difference-maker: Heading into Game 2 against the Sharks on Tuesday, the Hawks were 8-2 since defenseman Brian Campbell returned to the lineup from a broken collarbone.

Campbell came back at least a week ahead of schedule for Game 3 against Nashville with the Hawks down 2-1 in the series.

"We certainly missed Soupy," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "I think we really slowed down from where we were throughout most of the year.

"His addition to the rush and his pace to the game and joining the offensive zone really gives our team some speed and more puck possession.

"We really noticed his addition when we got him in Game 4 in Nashville. It turned the series around for us with his energy and pace. It was a big boost for our team, and the timing of when we got him back couldn't have been better."

More Soup for you: So what is Brian Campbell thinking when the fans at HP Pavilion boo him every time he touches the puck?

"Hang on to it as long as I can," Campbell joked.

The fans here just can't get over Campbell leaving as a free agent for the Hawks two summers ago even though he played only two months for the Sharks.

"It's part of the game and they're great fans here," Campbell said. "They know the game."

Joel Quenneville helped Campbell get over the booing by telling him it was nothing compared to how Sharks fans treated Chris Pronger when both were with St. Louis.

"I think it can help a player focus, knowing you want to make sure you're doing your best and don't want to give them any reason to add on," Quenneville said.