Sheet Scratches

On Monday night versus the Rangers, the Blue Jackets decided to give Kris Russell the night off and make him into a healthy scratch for the evening. Russell, a Box 13 defenseman, only has four assists in 16 games for Columbus this season and he is being looked towards to bring some more offense from the blueline. Hopefully a night off can help set him back to his scoring ways.

There were a pair of scratches for the Avalanche on Monday, as they played the Flyers at home. Both T.J. Hensick and Tom Preissing had the night off, as it looks like both players are being eased back into the regular grind of the line-up after suffering through some injury concerns this season. Hensick, a Box 5 forward, has a goal and two assists in seven games for the Avs, while Preissing, a Box 14 defenseman, has only one assist in one game this year.

Not too much word on Coyotes forward, Martin Hanzal, right away on Tuesday morning. He was held out of Phoenix's line-up against the Oilers with an undisclosed injury. Hanzal, a Box 5 forward, is currently listed as out day-to-day. In 23 games for Phoenix, Hanzal has scored three goals and six assists.

The Blues have been rotating a few defensemen in and out of their line-up of late, one of which, Alex Pietrangelo, is a Sheet player, listed in Box 14. There have been some rumblings in the rumour mill that the Blues may be looking to off-load one (or possibly) two of their defensemen to help ease the log jame on the blueline. Pietrangelo did have the chance to go back to the juniors this season, but the Blues have decided to keep him up, but are playing him sparingly.