Blackhawks Duncan Keith refers to high stick as an accident

According to TSN, Chicago Blackhawks defenceman Duncan Keith saif he unintentionally high-

sticked Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter in the face in Game 3 of the Western Conference

finals.

TSN said that Kings coach Darryl Sutter thought Keith got a slap on the wrist with a double minor

after opening a gash on Carter's face during the Kings 3-1 win over the Blackhawks in Game 3 on

Tuesday night.

The Canadian sports news channel went on to say that Keith cut Carter during an encounter well

behind the play during the second period.  After Jeff Carter took a short hack at Keith's hand while

he bent down to pick up his glove, Keith responded by skating behind Carter and hitting him in the

face with a one-handed swing of his stick. 

Keith told TSN "Yeah it was accidental.  Obviously I wanted to give him a tap, but not where I got

him.  I felt bad.  I'm glad to see that he came back.  It was just a scuffle.  It was an accident."

Because of the injury Carter had to miss the Kings four-minute power-play, which went nowhere. 

Keith apparently tried to apologize to Carter on the ice after Carter returned to the game. 

Sutter thought that Keith deserved harsher punishment, calling his actions "retaliation".

Sutter went on to say, "I didn't think it was a four minute penalty."  He then said "Thought it was a

wrong call.  That's three head injuries now for us.  I don't know how to answer it.  It's retaliation with

a stick.  It's not a high stick.  Whatever they want to call it, they'll call it.  Don't even need video."

Kings Centre Jarret Stoll was gone for six games in the second round with an apparent concussion

from an illegal hit by San Jose's Raffi Torres.  Stoll came back for the Conference finals, but then the

Kings were without captain Mike Richards for the last two games after he was the victim of a big hit

from Chicago's Dave Bolland. 

Carter led the Western Conference with 26 goals during the regular season.   The Kings won the cup

with Carter last season, and his acquisition was probably a factor.  Duncan Keith won the Stanley

Cup with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2010, and he is the Blackhawks top defenceman, with a team-

leading 26:47 of ice time during Game 3.