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Keiths welcome first child, a son

ST. PAUL, Minn. — It was a whirlwind two days for Duncan Keith.

After going through a practice here with his Blackhawks teammates Monday afternoon, Keith was preparing for bed when he got word his wife was going into labor.

So Keith flew back to Chicago and made it in time for the birth of his son, Colton Duncan, then hopped a plane back to Minnesota for Tuesday night’s Game 4 against the Wild, arriving two hours before faceoff.

It’s the first child for Keith and his wife, Kelly-Rae.

“It was just crazy,” Keith said. “I was ready to go to bed and get a good night’s sleep, and I still haven’t slept. But it was awesome.”

Keith played 24 minutes in the Hawks’ 3-0 victory and was plus-2 with 2 blocked shots.

Hawks coach Joel Quenneville said it was a no-brainer to allow Keith to leave the team to attend the birth.

“It’s a good day for the Keiths,” Quenneville said. “It sounds like everything went well and we’re happy by the whole situation. We’re encouraged that he’ll be here (Tuesday). It’s good news all the way around.”

The Hawks encourage their players to tend to family business even if it means missing a game.

“I think family comes first in a situation like that,” Quenneville said. “We’d want him to be there for his first child born. It was an easy decision. I’m very happy he was there in time and it all worked out.”

Jonathan Toews sounded surprised that Keith was coming back for the game since the baby was born at 11:15 a.m.

“I didn’t know about that, so it’s good news for us, too,” Toews said. “It’s nice for him to probably get that off his mind for the day and I’m sure he’ll be playing pretty loose. It’s probably a relief for him and his wife.”

Carcillo back in:After sitting out the first three games of the series and being a healthy scratch in five of the last eight during the regular season, Daniel Carcillo was back in the Hawks#146; lineup for Game 4.It was obvious that Joel Quenneville was looking for more of a physical attack, although Carcillo played only 3:55 and didn#146;t see much of the ice after he took an interference penalty in the first period.#147;He#146;s one those guys who brings energy to your team and enthusiasm to your team,#148; Quenneville said. #147;You want to make sure you#146;re smart how you approach games, but I think he#146;s got to play the way that makes him successful and that#146;s playing hard and bringing that unpredictability.#148;Carcillo was hoping to make a statement in order to remain in the Hawks#146; plans.#147;Playoff hockey is physical, hard hockey, hard checking,#148; Carcillo said. #147;You#146;ve got to win your 1-on-1 battles. You#146;ve got to play every shift like it means so much more.#147;That#146;s the reason we play, to play in big games like this #151; bring some energy and hopefully give the team a lift.#148;Norris finalists:Minnesota#146;s Ryan Suter was named one of the three finalists for the Norris Trophy on Tuesday along with Montreal#146;s P.K. Subban and Pittsburgh#146;s Kris Letang.Hawks defenseman Duncan Keith didn#146;t make it into the final three.#147;It#146;s a huge honor for me to be on that list,#148; Suter said. #147;Without my teammates I wouldn#146;t be on that list. I don#146;t look at it personally.#148;Pominville speaks:Wild right winger Jason Pominville talked to the media Tuesday for the first time since April 26 when he suffered a concussion from a Dustin Brown elbow.#147;It#146;s been tough, not being on the ice at this time of year,#148; said Pominville, who was back in the Minnesota lineup. #147;I#146;m obviously not happy about the hit, but at the same time I know he#146;s a guy who plays hard and hits hard.#147;I just don#146;t think the elbows are needed when you try to hit a guy. It#146;s just unfortunate it happened.#148;Tip-ins:Henrik Karlsson backed up Corey Crawford again. Ray Emery took more shots in the morning skate but still isn#146;t quite ready. #133; Brandon Bollig sat for the first time in the series with Daniel Carcillo returning to the lineup.

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