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Artyukhin Is Healthy Scratch

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 30, 2008

Updated: 11/30/2008 12:44 am

DENVER - Interim coach Rick Tocchet said he didn't want to single out LW Evgeny Artyukhin for some mistakes made during Friday's game at Minnesota. But Tocchet did want Artyukhin to take a look at things from a different vantage point.

So Artyukhin was a healthy scratch for Saturday's game against Colorado after playing seven minutes and finishing a minus-2 against the Wild.

"I think Arty needs to watch a game from up top," Tocchet said. "We've got to teach him stuff and I think right now if he watches a game it will help. I don't want to blame him but there were three chances against that he caused and I think right now he's thinking too much so I just want him to go up to the stands and look at, I think it will help him in the long run."

Artyukhin has had his share of strong games this season - such as Wednesday against the New York Rangers when he was named No. 3 star - but has shown streakiness at times.

"We can't have a roller coaster with him," Tocchet said. "We've got to have consistency and that's what we're looking for."

With Artyukhin out, LW Gary Roberts was activated off injured reserve after missing four games with an upper-body injury.

BOOGEY MAN: Rookie C Steven Stamkos knew who he was hitting when he gave Minnesota enforcer Derek Boogard - who stands 6-foot-7, weighs 255 pounds and carries the nickname "Boogey Man" - a push from behind during Friday's game. But Stamkos wasn't sure what to think when Boogard came looking for payback.

"I was a little scared there when he got up and gave me a cross-check, I'm not going to lie," Stamkos said. "I don't think he had any intentions of ending my career if he caught me there, but give Craiger Ryan Craig credit because he didn't see that I hit Boogard, he just saw him cross-check me and challenged him, so that showed a lot of character on his part."

NUTS AND BOLTS: RW Marty St. Louis was awarded a secondary assist after a review by the league on Ryan Malone's second-period goal during Friday's game in Minnesota. ... D Matt Smaby was reassigned to AHL Norfolk on Saturday, as was LW Jason Ward.

Erik Erlendsson

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