Hawks' Keith hoping for turnaround

Maybe it's a stretch to say as Duncan Keith goes, so go the Blackhawks.

But the fact of the matter is Keith has struggled over the first month of the season, and so have the Hawks.

Keith has been a minus player in eight games, six of which the Hawks have lost.

He had perhaps his toughest night in Wednesday's 2-1 loss to Phoenix when he committed two turnovers that led to both Coyotes goals and was sat by coach Joel Quenneville more than usual.

Keith played a shade under 21 minutes, which is about eight minutes below his league leading average per game. Quenneville benched his Norris Trophy winner for the final 3:53 of the second period, which might not seem like a long time, but it is when you consider Keith normally plays practically every other shift.

“Obviously, I was out for a couple goals there and I left my partner for a couple 2-on-1s and it turned out to be the 2 goals that cost us the game,” Keith said Thursday. “It just comes down to me needing to play better.

“The last few games obviously, and probably maybe go back more than that, I haven't been at my best and I know I need to be better.”

Keith has played a lot of hockey the last two seasons but contends that is not behind his slow start. Counting the regular season, Olympics and playoffs, Keith played in 111 games last season, averaging close to 27 minutes a night.

Keith has led the Hawks in ice time the last five seasons.

“I wouldn't say fatigue; it's just being more focused game in and game out,” said Keith, who admitted he might be one of several Hawks veterans trying to do too much in attempt to help right the ship.

“I think I could be guilty of that,” Keith said. “I need to keep my game simple, and when I do that everything else comes a lot easier and a lot better.”

Quenneville said it's not only Keith who needs to elevate his game with the Hawks sitting at 8-9-1 after 18 games.

“You don't want to focus on one guy, but Duncs is a proud guy,” Quenneville said. “Everybody has a stretch they want to get out of, whether it's a game or two or a trend, but he's one guy who simple is probably going to make him more effective. That's what we're looking for.”

Quenneville downplayed the notion he was sending Keith a message by sitting him for longer than normal against the Coyotes.

“You do certain things you feel gets you the best out of the player and make your team successful,” Quenneville said. “Sometimes messages are sent in different ways. Everybody has that moment where you get a chance to catch your breath or observe.”

Keith took the brief benching the right way.

“Sometimes it's good to take a step back and take a look and obviously understand what went on and what happened,” Keith said. “I know what I need to do to be successful and how I need to play.”

The Hawks play their next seven of eight games on the road, a stretch that could define how the rest of the season goes.

“We understand we need to start getting some wins,” Keith said. “We know the situation were in, but the positive thing is there's still lots of games to be played. There's still a lot of time, but at the same time we need to start it right now.”