Keith won't rush his return

Duncan Keith gave it a try at the morning skate but didn't feel well enough to play Monday night against Minnesota.

Keith missed his third game with an apparent concussion and isn't likely to play Wednesday against St. Louis in the Hawks' final game before the all-star break.

"There's no reason to push it," Keith said. "I wasn't ready to play (Monday)."

Keith said he has felt better every day since taking an elbow to the head from Buffalo's Drew Stafford last Wednesday.

Keith didn't want to discuss the specifics of his injury, nor did he want to get into the NHL-mandated tests for concussion symptoms he must pass before being cleared to play.

"I just have to see how it feels every day," Keith said. "If it's good enough to go and I'm ready to play, then I'll play. It's been getting better every day. It was a hard hit, and a lot can go wrong when you're hit like that.

"You have to look at the big picture here. It's only been a couple games and we have a long road ahead of us, and it's important to be ready for the long haul."

Keith gave Stafford a pass on the hit, delivered as he tried to make an offensive move to the net, refusing to call it dirty or cheap.

"I should have just came down and shot," Keith said. "I shouldn't have tried to cut in and make that move.

"It was a tough play. He didn't let up, and I don't know if I would have either. It surprised me that he was backchecking. Sometimes you play teams and they don't backcheck."

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville didn't totally rule out a Wednesday return for his best defenseman.

"He skated and felt better," Quenneville said. "Hopefully he'll skate (today) and we'll get a better idea for Wednesday. We'll talk to him after practice and we'll know for sure about Wednesday."

Kane not able: There was no doubt in Joel Quenneville's mind that the 10-game goal drought Patrick Kane took into Monday's game was directly related to the high ankle sprain he suffered Dec. 30 in Detroit on the hit from Dan Cleary.

"He's coming off a tough injury," Quenneville said. "I know that's the kind of injury that really limits the guys that can make plays. Your effectiveness in those little tight areas that you seem to have that added area of patience, sometimes can be compromised.

"I know guys that have had that injury and it's very tough to play at that level that you're comfortable playing at."

Sharp reaction: Joel Quenneville had no problem with Patrick Sharp, his leading goal scorer, dropping the gloves at St. Louis and fighting Blues defenseman Jay McKee in response to a hit on Patrick Kane.

"I think Sharpie did a great thing there," Quenneville said. "I think that situation was definitely combustion, it wasn't premeditated. It was one of those responses to an incident that shows we care about each other.

"Certain guys over the course of the year might get the odd fight and I think it's good for everybody."