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Anger Propels Bolts

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By ERIK ERLENDSSON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 13, 2008

TAMPA - Vinny Prospal dropped to his knees and pumped both arms as he slid toward the sideboards seconds after scoring the winning goal Tuesday in Tampa Bay's 3-2 victory against Montreal.

Vinny Lecavalier set up both Prospal goals, while rookie goaltender Karri Ramo made 19 saves to help the Lightning win for the second time in the past five home games. But with victories in three of the past four and points in four consecutive games, Tampa Bay keeps finding a way to stay in the hunt in the Southeast Division and is six points behind Carolina with a pair of games in hand.

But the big topic of the night - outside of the victory - was the play of Prospal and his reaction after the game.

Normally, the free-agent-to-be is one of the more excitable and emotional players when he puts a puck in the net. Tuesday's display, however, was the most he has shown in quite some time. He had been noticeably frustrated in recent days - even after scoring the overtime winner in Nashville on Thursday - and he vented during a postgame interview on the bench that aired live on Sun Sports and piped in-house to the fans.
Prospal stated it was one of the most satisfying moments of his career, as he felt like he shoved it up somebody's backside. When he was asked who he was referring to, he replied with "I would like to think they know who they are."

After the game, Prospal sat in full gear behind closed doors for a discussion with Coach John Tortorella and General Manager Jay Feaster for about 25 minutes.
Prospal declined to discuss the situation in the locker room after he came out of the meeting, but judging from Tortorella's postgame news conference, it's not hard to decipher the source of Prospal's recent frustration as his ice time the past three games has been cut to nearly half of his normal 20-plus minutes.

"He's ticked," Tortorella said. "I love it when players are ticked at me. I'm not here to be the happy man and make everybody happy, I'm making calls as far as the game is concerned. Athletes who are mad, to me, are good athletes."

In the past six games, Prospal had been playing center on a line with Jan Hlavac and Michel Ouellet, with the trio sitting on the bench for most of the second half during the past three games.

But Prospal was reunited with Marty St. Louis and Lecavalier during Tuesday's game, and it paid off in a tying goal late in the first and the winner with 8:08 left in the game.

"I really do enjoy scoring goals for this team, it feels incredible," Prospal said. "I said it from the beginning of the year, when I go out there with those two guys, it's like the best line in hockey right now. It's incredible, Marty and Vinny, they found me all night long tonight, and I was able to score two goals.

"We came back for a huge win against a very good hockey team."

With the Feb. 26 trade deadline creeping closer, Prospal is also playing under the possibility of being dealt unless Tampa Bay gets a lot closer to the top of the division between now and then. Judging from his play Tuesday, he wants to do everything he can to ensure he stays.

"I'm sure there was quite a bit of relief after scoring the winner and a few other things as well, that's life," Tortorella said. "But he played well. He played really well. And athletes who are upset, if they contribute and help the team win, coaches are happy. I'm not too concerned about feelings. This isn't a touchy-feeling thing here or a lovefest, this is the game of hockey and we are fighting for our life."

Reporter Erik Erlendsson can be reached at (813) 259-7835 or eerlendsson@tampatrib.com.

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