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Keith and Seabrook reunited, and it feels so good

KeithSeabrook

The Duncan Keith-Brent Seabrook defensive pairing was back together again during Chicago’s 4-1 victory in Game 5 of the Detroit series, and nobody was happier about the reunion than the latter.

‘‘It’s a comfortability we’ve had,’’ Seabrook told the Chicago Sun-Times. ‘‘We’ve played together for a lot of years. A lot of games. I know where he’s going to be. He knows where I’m going to be.

“It’s that comfortability that we have with each other.’’

The reunion might’ve been exactly what Seabrook needed to turn around his postseason.

He admittedly wasn’t happy with his performance in the opening round against Minnesota and looked lost at times during the first four games of the Western Conference semifinals.

His low point? Getting danced around by Gustav Nyqvist on this goal in Game 3:

Seabrook finished Game 3 with just over 17 minutes of ice time and was then essentially parked for Game 4, playing a playoff-low 12:03 (the only defenseman to play less was 22-year-old Nick Leddy).

Keith had been playing with Niklas Hjalmarsson for the majority of the playoffs but, with Seabrook struggling, Quenneville made the move to reunite a pairing that was instrumental during the 2010 Stanley Cup run.

‘‘You’ve got to commend Seabs,’’ Quenneville said. ‘‘I think he was excited about the opportunity and prepared himself well. They have such a great rapport — him and Duncs – in all areas of their lives.”

For one game, the move worked.

Seabrook was back to his usual minutes in Game 5 (23:20) while recording an assist, seven shots on goal and this big hit on Damien Brunner:

Seabrook and Keith will be back on a pairing tonight as the ‘Hawks look to stay alive in the series and force a Game 7.