Lee Stempniak will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday's game against the Lightning, Steve Zipay of Newsday reports.

Stempniak will be a healthy scratch for Wednesday's game against the Lightning, Steve Zipay of Newsday reports.

Analysis:

Stempniak missed two games last week with a back injury, but had received full clearance to play over the weekend. Instead of slotting a healthy Stempniak back into the lineup, coach Alain Vigneault decided to stick with youngsters Jesper Fast and Anthony Duclair in bottom-six roles Sunday against the Canadiens, and will do so again Wednesday. Stempniak may need either Fast or Duclair to slip up in the near future if he hopes to earn his way back into a regular role.