Chicago Black Hawks vs Los Angeles Kings Live Stream Free: Watch Online NHL Playoffs Game 4 Thursday night at 9:00 PM ET from Staples Center in Los Angeles

If the Chicago Blackhawks are going to end the Los Angeles Kings' perfect postseason on home ice in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals, they'll have to do it without their top defenseman. It can be watched online through free live stream (details below).

Duncan Keith will sit out Thursday under a one-game suspension for high-sticking Los Angeles' Jeff Carter. Keith hit Carter with a one-handed blow in the second period of the Kings' 3-1 victory in Game 3, opening a 20-stitch gash on the star forward's face and cracking three of his teeth.

Chicago has a 2-1 series lead and could take control with a win in Game 4, but the uncertainty of Keith's fate hung over both teams' practices Wednesday. Keith is enormously important to the powerful Blackhawks, easily leading the club in ice time and ranking third in playoff scoring with 10 points.

Sheldon Brookbank, the likely candidate to take Keith's place in the Blackhawks' lineup, hasn't played in the postseason, according to cbssports.com.

"It's been our strength pretty much all season, our depth on our blue line," Chicago defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson said before the suspension was announced. "So whatever happens with that, I think we're going to be all right. I'm sure if something happens, Brookbank is going to come in and play good. All of the D-men have to step up a little more if that happens."

Keith, whose ungloved hand was nearly slashed by Carter an instant earlier, got a double minor penalty for his high stick, but was allowed to stay in Game 3. Keith had a hearing with the NHL's department of player safety Wednesday, but spent the day uneasily waiting for a decision.

"I said my piece," Keith said before the suspension. "Said the same thing last night, that it was an accident, and I didn't mean to get him where I got him."

The rest of the Kings also tried to downplay the conflict described as "retaliation" by Kings coach Darryl Sutter after the game. Los Angeles already lost Stoll and Mike Richards to head injuries earlier in the postseason, although Stoll has returned and Richards is skating again after a big hit in Game 1 kept him out of the past two games.

"I moved on right after the game," Sutter said. "Had my feelings on it. I think I'm correct."

The NHL agreed, and the Blackhawks' attempt to end the defending Stanley Cup champions' 15-game home winning streak got tougher.

The Blackhawks realize Keith's absence won't matter if they can't figure out how to crack the Kings' incredible home-ice advantage. Los Angeles hasn't lost at Staples Center since March 23, and the Kings have won nine straight playoff games in their downtown building dating to last season's Stanley Cup clincher.

The Blackhawks gave credit to the Kings' superb start in Game 3, putting them in an early 1-0 hole and matching Chicago's urgency from the first two games at United Center. But the Presidents' Trophy winners are confident they can match the Kings' start in Game 4.

And Los Angeles is still struggling to score in its title defense, managing no more than two goals without an empty-netter in its last eight games. Carter and Justin Williams have six goals apiece in Los Angeles' 16 playoff games, but nobody else has more than defensemanSlava Voynov's five goals.

Low scores are no surprise in a tense playoff series between two elite teams with strong defenses, but Chicago forward Patrick Kane's struggles are increasingly inexplicable. The six-time 20-goal scorer hasn't found the net in seven games, and he's got just two goals in the postseason after scoring 23 in the lockout-shortened regular season.

Kane realizes the Blackhawks depend on his scoring, and he's staying confident in his skills.

Chicago Blackhawks vs Los Angeles Kings is scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET and can be watched online through free live stream by clicking here.

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