There were plenty of smiles going around the Blackhawks' dressing room following their four-game sweep of the Sharks. Duncan Keith, however, wasn't flashing his pearly whites. Or what was left of them.
The veteran defenseman lost seven teeth when he was hit in the mouth with a puck off the stick of Patrick Marleau during the second period of the Hawks' 4-2 victory in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals Sunday afternoon at the United Center.
"I just smashed all my teeth out," Keith said as he opened his mouth to reveal the damage. "They numbed it after it happened; they just stuck a bunch of needles in there and froze it all up. It feels a lot better when we win. It would probably be hurting a lot more if we lost."
Photo: Missing seven teeth, Duncan Keith celebrates the win with Antti Niemi. (Scott Strazzante / Tribune)
Keith lost four teeth on the bottom and three on top and said afterward he had a long night ahead of him at the dentist.
"I took one breath and it felt like my whole mouth was missing so I knew there were some teeth gone," Keith said. "I saw a couple fall out and I had one in the back of my throat. I could feel it and coughed it out. A bunch of them disintegrated it felt like.
"That sort of thing happens. I'm not the only guy who's ever lost bunch of teeth or been hit in the mouth with a puck or stick and I'm sure I won't be the last guy."
Despite the damage, Keith returned a short time later and assisted on Dave Bolland's game-tying goal and finished with a game-high 29 minutes 2 seconds of ice time.
"I told him it's kind of a blessing in disguise because now he's going to get some nice fake teeth," teammate Patrick Sharp said. "He's going to have a great smile in a couple weeks. That's playoff hockey (written) all over it. A guy takes one in the face, picking out his teeth in the locker room (and) comes back. He assisted on the Bolland goal there, created the whole goal there by taking a big hit. He's walking around, skating around the ice, talking to us before the power play, mumbling what we were supposed to do. I don't think anybody understood what he was talking about."
2010 STANLEY CUP !
Kudos to the Blackhawks for the series win! This Bruins fan is routing for you all the way! Chicago has waited long enough for the Cup!
Don't watch much sports but I'l have to follow this team through the Stanley cup now. I am in awe of this kind of stamina and resilience. Yay Chicago!
duncan you are a tru pro unlike other athletes ie nba nfl mlb etc you make us proud
This team is a class act. Since last season these guys were already "gelled" as 1 unit. Love Coach Q, the discipline he has these guys follow is working! Congratulations, you guys are awesome. Onward and upward.
I'm an avid Red Wing fan for my entire life, but I am glad to see the Blackhawks winning. I watched most of the today's game, but missed the third period because of a prior engagement. It appears all of Chicago is behind the Hawks now... which is great too. You could see this coming last year, that being the improvement of the team. The younger stars are maturing into some pretty outstanding players. Looks like some stiff competition in years to come for my Wings. And what about Duncan Keith? How tough is that? If that happened to a NBA or MLB player, they would be out for weeks. To lose 7 teeth, get your mouth shot up with needles and go back to play a few minutes later.... that's the NHL boys. Lets hope the Hawks play the Canadiens for an original 6 match-up.
christ on a bike that is one tough MF. Hope Wirtz has a good dental plan. baseball players making their millions for sitting through minor injuries can suck it.
thank you Blackhawks for disposing of those diving, whining, cheating, cheap shot, cry baby, lousy, stinking San Jose Sharks.
I lost 5 teeth in a car accident when I was 17 yrs old, so to go out and play hockey after,WOW,that is one tough SOB.
All I want for Christmas is my 7 front teeth! Way to go Duncan. I can't imagine losing one let alone 7...
Keith will fit right in in phil. Not many toofithis on them bumpkins
Duncan Keith looks like a real hockey player now! Big smile, Dunc--attaboy!
Rember how tough this guy is the next time you watch a basketball game. All the way Hawks!!!!
That is one tough mother &*#$er.
Maybe all hockey players should have masks similar to what goalies use. Those football-style mouth guards aren't intended to take a puck.
"talking to us before the power play, mumbling what we were supposed to do. I don't think anybody understood what he was talking about."
That is awesome. What is not to love about playoff hockey?
Ouch!!!