Duncan Keith out with hand injury

SUNRISE, Fla. — Defenseman Duncan Keith won’t be in the Blackhawks lineup Thursday night against the Florida Panthers.

Officially, he’s day-to-day with an upper-body injury. But replays showed he blocked a shot with his left hand against the Nashville Predators in Monday’s win at the United Center. He didn’t return after it.

Coach Joel Quenneville, though, did say Keith could return “soon” from the injury. Keith, who will be missing his first game since the 2008-09 season, had six assists and a plus-3 rating in 11 games.

“When you’re missing a player like Duncan, it’s always a tough loss,” winger Marian Hossa said. “He won the Norris Trophy. He’s the top defenseman on our team. Somebody else is going to have to step up, and somebody else will get more minutes.”

Veteran Sean O’Donnell will be paired with Nick Leddy with Keith out of the lineup. Brent Seabrook-Niklas Hjalmarsson and Steve Montador-Sami Lepisto remain the other defensive pairs.