TAMPA - It's not the view LW Ruslan Fedotenko expected of Saturday's game, but it's one Lightning coach John Tortorella thought might help the goal-less forward, who had to watch from afar as a healthy scratch against Carolina.

The 24-year-old Fedotenko, who scored 19 goals and led the team with six game-winners last season, has been unable to get on track. Thursday against San Jose, Fedotenko had a good scoring chance snuffed by Sharks G Evgeni Nabokov in the first period. But that's been about it of late. In his past three games, Fedotenko has two shots on goal and has struggled at times controlling the puck.

``This isn't a benching,'' Tortorella said. ``This is a young player - we forget how young he is - that sometimes it helps to sit back and watch. His play hasn't dictated that he be in there every night. Maybe a night watching can help.''

Fedotenko was replaced in the revamped lineup by rookie Dmitry Afanasenkov, who joined C Vinny Lecavalier on a line with LW Fredrik Modin. Tortorella said he'll re-evaluate Fedotenko's return prior to the next game.

Fedotenko, while frustrated at his lack of production, was not prepared to get scratched in only the eighth game of the season.

``I'm not happy, but it really doesn't matter right now,'' Fedotenko said. ``I was really surprised I was scratched. It caught me off guard.''