Blackhawks' Keith mired in scoreless drought

Zero.

Twenty-nine games into the season, it's a number that sticks out like a sore thumb next to Duncan Keith's name when reporters pick up their stat packages before each Blackhawks game.

It's a number that's beginning to stick out to Keith as well.

"Well, I'd like to score a goal," said a smiling Keith before the Hawks lost 1-0 in overtime to the Rangers at the United Center on Friday.

Keith's primary job, obviously, is to play defense. But he's also averaged 8 goals per 82 games played and hasn't gone this long without scoring to open a season since the 2006-07 campaign.

So this drought isn't something he's used to.

"I feel like the last few games especially I've had a lot more chances to shoot and I've shot," Keith said. "It's created some opportunities.

"I think it's just being involved on the offense and joining the play and trying to help the team in that regard. It'll just happen eventually, hopefully."

Of course, just because Keith hasn't scored doesn't mean he's not helping out the offense.

The veteran is actually second among defensemen with 17 assists, trailing only Ottawa's Erik Karlsson, who has 20. His last assist helped lead to an overtime game-winner by Marian Hossa against New Jersey on Dec. 1.

"I've never really looked at myself that really tries to go out there and score goals," Keith said. "That's not my focus in a game.

"My focus is obviously playing good defensively and getting the puck up to our forwards and making plays like that.

Still ...

"I definitely want to put pucks at the net and get my shot through," Keith said. "It's always nice to score."

Toews update:

Coach Joel Quenneville was hoping Jonathan Toews could skate Friday before the Hawks played the Rangers, but the Hawks' captain was once again not on the ice. Toews, who has not skated since Sunday, missed his eighth straight game with an upper-body injury.

Quenneville couldn't give a timetable for Toews' return.

New-look PP:

With Brent Seabrook out, Marian Hossa moved up to the top power-play unit. The Hawks worked on a 1-3-1 formation during the latter stages of their morning skate Friday, with Duncan Keith at the point, Hossa, Artemi Panarin and Patrick Kane spread across the middle and Artem Anisimov at the net.

"It worked out fine there this morning," Quenneville said. "Looked pretty good."

The Hawks weren't able to put the new formation in place against the Rangers in the second period, though, because Kane was injured.

Kane did, however, return in time to take the ice with the second PP unit.

Slap shots:

Michal Kempny was the Hawks' healthy scratch vs. the Rangers. ... Eric Semborski, who was the Blackhawks' emergency goalie in Philadelphia last Saturday, is being flown in by the Hawks and will attend Sunday's game versus Dallas at the United Center.

Still searching

After 29 games, Duncan Keith has not scored a goal this season. This chart shows Keith's goals on Dec. 9 of past seasons (except for 2012 when we used March 16 due to the lockout). It also includes his goals for each season.

Year Stats on Dec. 9 Total

2015 4 goals / 18 games 9

2014 6 goals / 28 games 10

2013 1 goal / 32 games 6

2012 2 goals / 29 games 3*

2011 2 goals / 26 games 4

2010 2 goals / 30 games 7

2009 5 goals / 29 games 14

2008 2 goals / 25 games 8

2007 4 goals / 29 games 12

2006 0 goals / 27 games 2

2005 2 goals / 26 games 9

* 48-game season