Russell has just one goal and four assists in 31 games this season. He has no fantasy value since the Blues trade deadline acquisitions of Bouwmeester and Leopold.

Kris Russell played forward on Sunday.

Russell is normally a defenseman but he was moved up front when Andy McDonald could not play due to the flu. "A little overwhelming, but it was all right," Russell who saw fourth line duty, said. "I was just trying to keep it simple, more worried about the defensive side of the puck. 'Revo' and 'Cracks' talked to me a lot, so that helped." Russell played with Ryan Reaves and Adam Cracknell Sunday and will likely return to the blueline in time for Tuesday's game.

Kris Russell has five points and a plus-seven rating in his last 15 games.

It looks like Russell is starting to come into his own like the Columbus Blue Jackets thought when they drafted him in the third round of the 2005 Draft. He never could get it together in Columbus and was finally dealt to St. Louis on Nov. 11, 2011 for Nikita Nikitin. He had no points and a minus-two rating in his first 12 games this season but his recent play makes him fantasy-worthy in deeper pools.