Tuesday Night's Sheet Scratches

The flu bug came back to haunt Box 12 defenseman Steve Eminger on Tuesday night, as the Ducks took on the Wild at home. Eminger has been in and out of the line-up as a healthy scratch for the better part of this season already, but this time had a good reason to be out, instead of his play being bad enough to be sat. I would expect him back soon.

With new blood infused into the Blue Jackets' line-up on Tuesday night, Box 11 defenseman, Mike Commodore, was assigned the position of press box participant for the evening, as the Jackets were on Long Island for a game. Commodore has also had his fair share of time in the press box already this season and some time away due to injury. His fantasy value is really low this year.

Another player making a return to the press box was Jeff Woywitka, upon the arrival of Trevor Daley back into the line-up from injury. Woywitka, a Box 14 defenseman, has been at the bottom of the blueline totem pole all season long and has done okay filling in for his injured mates. He'll likely be in the press box for a little while anyways, or until another injury or some terrible play.

Real bad news for Box 3 forward, Martin Erat, as he left Tuesday night's game against the Blues with a knee injury, which he suffered in a knee-on-knee collision. The actual length of time and severity of the injury is still yet to be announced, but he didn't return to last night's game and the initial feeling from the footage is not positive.

It looks like the Penguins are trying to send a message to Ruslan Fedotenko, who holds the team's worst plus/minus rating at -6. Fedotenko, a Box 22 forward, was held out of the line-up against the Sabres for some spotty play of late, but that didn't really help the team's fortunes at all, as the Penguins gave up a 3-0 lead to lose 4-3 in regulation.

A scratch and an injury here in St. Louis, as the Blues played against the Predators on Tuesday. The Blues held out Erik Johnson, a Box 10 defenseman, as a healthy scratch on Tuesday, which likely didn't sit very well with the young defender. That was likely to give him a kick in the pants for his play recently. Paul Kariya, on the other hand, has been listed as out day-to-day with a head injury, but the reports are that the injury is not serious. Kariya, a Box 3 forward, is still doubtfulfor Thursday night's game, so it could be a little while before he returns.

It looks like the relationship between the Canucks and Mathieu Schneider has soured to its breaking point, as the club has placed the veteran defenseman on waivers, which he cleared on Wednesday, leaving the Canucks some flexibility. With news that Kevin Bieksa, a Box 10 defenseman, left Tuesday's game against the Coyotes with a leg injury, some wonder if there will be any change in heart for Schneider to help fill in the position if Bieksa can't go on Thursday.