Big minutes no big deal to Blackhawks' Keith
If it seems like Duncan Keith is always on the ice, it's because that's basically the case.
The 31-year-old defenseman played more than 101 minutes in the Blackhawks' final three games of their first-round series with Nashville, which wrapped up Saturday night at the United Center thanks to his goal with 3:48 left in the game.
Exhaustion and fatigue don't seem to be two words Keith is even remotely familiar with.
"I think as the game progresses some guys get a little bit more taxed and it creates fatigue and decision-making becomes poor," Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said. "He's just the opposite.
"The more minutes he gets, the more he wants to be out there and the more effective he is and he seems to be quicker, has the puck. … It doesn't affect him."
Keith's decision-making was spot-on perfect on his game-winning goal. The veteran of 99 playoff games controlled the puck just in front of the blue line, faked a shot, slid to his left and unleashed a bullet that Pekka Rinne never saw.
It was bedlam for the 22,000-plus at that point.
"(We) had 'em running around a little bit and obviously a great shot by Duncs," Quenneville said. "But everybody had some touches and everybody had some patience with it. … All the right things to make it a special goal and a special shift."
It was certainly a special series by Keith, who also scored the game-winner in Game 1.
"Whether you see him on the scoresheet or not, he means the world to our team both ways, especially in our own end," Hawks captain Jonathan Toews said.
Feeling good:
Patrick Kane, coming back from a broken collarbone, held court before Game 6 and said he felt more comfortable as the series went on.
"I feel pretty good," he said. "Especially playing five games now, I pretty comfortable in my mind that my shoulder's all right. I don't feel like I'm thinking about it on the ice too much anymore."
Kane ripped home a huge first-period goal from 40 feet out in Game 6 with just six seconds left, taking a pass from Duncan Keith after Brad Richards won a faceoff.
It tied the game at 3-3. Kane also got an assist on Jonathan Toews' first-period, power-play goal.
Tip-ins:
Nine of 21 Nashville goals in the series came from Filip Forsberg and Colin Wilson. … Forsberg, according to Elias Sports Bureau, became just the fourth rookie in 70 years to record a hat trick for a team facing elimination when he accomplished the feat in Nashville's 5-2 Game 5 victory. … Through five games, Duncan Keith's average ice time was 32:52. The next closest Hawk was Johnny Oduya (26:39).
He said it:
"I think the days off do wonders every round. It takes a physical toll on you. I think with the amount of periods we've already played in the series … closing it out on Saturday would be huge for us."
- Kris Versteeg before Game 6