Prospal steps up game for Rangers

Rangers and former Lightning coach John Tortorella believes he has landed a winner in C Vinny Prospal, whom the Lightning turned loose before the season by buying out the final three years of his contract.

"Vinny, you guys know him, he's contagious," Tortorella said. "He came into camp in great shape, he lost some weight, I'm not sure how much, but the best way to get Vinny Prospal is when he wants to prove a point.

"And I'm not saying that about how things went here, but he was out of the league and at the start of the summer he was not going to be playing in the league. He wants to prove a point that he can still play here."

Prospal had 19 goals and 26 assists and was minus-20 last year on a Lightning team that finished 24-40-18. The 34-year-old Czech has six goals and 18 assists and is plus-6 for the Rangers.

Smith vs. Stars?

Lightning G Mike Smith drew the start Friday night, but Coach Rick Tocchet wouldn't say whether he'll be in net tonight in Dallas against his old team.

A quality backup to Marty Turco in 2006-07 and part of 2007-08, Smith came to the Lightning in the February 2008 trade that also netted forwards Jeff Halpern and Jussi Jokinen for C Brad Richards.

Smith faced the Stars last season in the St. Pete Times Forum, beating them 4-2 on Jan. 19, but he has not played in the American Airlines Center since the trade.

Tocchet said he won't ask Smith whether he wants to start tonight. Rather, he'll tell him if he's playing.

"We're in a situation where we have to win hockey games," he said. "Would he like to play? Yeah, obviously. If he's playing well, he should play. But we just have to figure things out here."

Smith saved 26 of 27 shots Friday night, and he said he believes he has earned a start tonight.

Blue line update

Veteran D Mattias Ohlund skated again Friday morning, but he missed a sixth consecutive game with an ankle/foot injury.

Ohlund said be feels "better and better every day," and Tocchet reiterated that the alternate captain is "day to day."

Meanwhile, the team sent D Matt Smaby back down to AHL Norfolk for conditioning. Tocchet said he'd like to get Smaby into a game soon but noted that with Ohlund returning soon, there will again be a logjam of defensemen.

Keep it simple

Although the Lightning haven't played well in their first home games after long road trips (they lost to Toronto 4-3 Wednesday after a four-game cross-country trip), they're hardly the first NHL team to suffer from that malady.

Tocchet said it's common, and he has drawn on his playing experience in advising players to simplify their game when they don't have the proper feel in their legs or hands.

"What bothers you as a coach, or even as a player, is when a guy doesn't have it, and he still tries things he shouldn't be trying," he said. "Just get the puck in deep, play less 20-second shifts and maybe hit a little more than you usually do.

"And don't worry about handling the puck as much. I think that's the stuff you're looking for from your team in those situations."