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Games Will Be A New Experience

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By PAVEL BARTA

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 3, 2008

PRAGUE, Czech Republic - Vinny Prospal will dress for his 793rd NHL game in Saturday's season opener against the Rangers. It is not an anniversary to celebrate, but the game will offer a rare experience for the Lightning forward.

For the first time in his 12-year career, he will play for Czech fans wearing an NHL jersey.

"I have a special feeling to play NHL games in my country," Prospal said Thursday after the Lightning's practice at O2 Arena. "I skated with the Czech national team here while my family members and friends were watching from the seats, but this will be different, because it's a pure NHL game."

Another Czech Republic native, forward Radim Vrbata, will be in the same situation.

"I'm looking forward to the games very much," Vrbata said. "The new season is just beginning, and I'm new with the Lightning team. There will be pressure on me to perform well, especially with the games in Prague. All I want to do is to get prepared and try to play my best."

Ticket prices start at 3,000 Czech crowns, or about 200 dollars each. Promoters expect both games to be sold out, but even the lower-priced seats are hardly available for most Czechs.

"I've got some free tickets for my friends, and I was promised to get more from the other guys on our team who wouldn't use them," Vrbata said. "But I'm not sure they didn't make any new friends in the city during the time we've spent here and didn't pledge them to someone else in the meantime.

"If they did, I must share the tickets I already have somehow."

The Lightning arrived in Prague a week ago, and they played preseason games in Berlin and Bratislava, Slovakia. The team won both contests and returned to the Czech capital on Wednesday.

Because of the rigorous schedule, two practices were canceled to give players a break before the busy weekend.

About 170 Lightning fans are expected to attend the opener Saturday in Prague. Remaining seats will be occupied mostly by fans who have no allegiance to either team.

"We're going to be some kind of neutral team here, but in the previous games we played in Europe the crowd was unbelievable," said rookie Steven Stamkos, the team's No.1 overall draft pick. "There were drums and whistling, like at a soccer game."

The Czechs don't get the chance to see NHL stars live every day. This will be the first time in 19 years, since the Calgary Flames came to town.

About 9,000 people attended Thursdays low-priced, ticket-accessible practice at the O2 Arena and had the chance to meet players afterward.

Thursday night in Prague, the team was invited for a dinner at historic Liechtenstein Palace with Czech Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, and the Rangers also attended the event.

Lightning coach Barry Melrose was reluctant to speak about team functions with the start of the new season getting close.

"There's not a lot of talk about sightseeing and stuff like that among us," Melrose said. "We are looking forward to the games we play before we return to Tampa.

"As far as me, the coaching staff, trainers and players are concerned, we are focused on Saturday and Sunday."

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