Avery a healthy scratch against Sharks

SAN JOSE, Calif. -- On Friday night, Sean Avery went to the theater to catch "The Adjustment Bureau." Saturday night, the left wing himself had to adjust.

For the first time this season, Avery (three goals and 21 assists in 69 games) was a healthy scratch. Erik Christensen (nine goals and 11 assists in 50 games, but scratched for the last two) returned to the lineup Saturday night against the Sharks.

"I want to get Erik back in. He wasn't playing that badly and I think Sean has been inconsistent," coach John Tortorella said.

Avery was asked if he has been inconsistent. "I'd have to think about that a little bit more before I answer," he said.

Avery, with a goal and assist in his last five games, averaged less than 9:18 on ice in all but one of the last eight. "I'm disappointed I can't help the team win but not discouraged, no," he said. "I had a good skate, worked on some things; I've played too long to get discouraged. I hope we get two points, that the guys play a great game. I'll go back Monday and just work hard again."

On March 12, 2010, Avery was benched for a Thrashers game and responded with three goals and three assists in the next seven before being sidelined for the season after injuring his right knee against the Leafs on March 27. Tortorella declined to say if Avery -- or defenseman Steve Eminger, scratched rather than Matt Gilroy -- will dress Tuesday against the Islanders.

"I'm certainly not laying the [5-2 Ducks] loss on Sean Avery; for this game, this is the decision," Tortorella said. "With everybody healthy, you've got to look at the team you're playing and how other people are playing. It's certainly not, 'You two guys [Christensen and Avery] are going to be switching'; it's everybody.

"If I think this is the best 20, that's what we're going with."