BRANDON - Lightning associate coach Craig Ramsay couldn't say exactly when the play took place. But he remembered how good it was.
It happened against the Canadiens during the East semifinals when defenseman Nolan Pratt fought through some purposeful obstruction in the neutral zone, found his way back to the puck and deflected away a shot by Alex Kovalev. Ramsay, who oversees the defense, spoke with so much enthusiasm, he seemed ready to cheer.
"The kid has played well," Ramsay said. "He just flat-out competes and that's what it's all about."
That is what Pratt is hoping.
Pratt wasn't supposed to see much playing time. Though he played the Lightning's first 49 games, he was demoted after the Jan. 27 acquisition of Darryl Sydor. He played nine games the rest of the regular season. But a right wrist injury to Jassen Cullimore in Game 3 of the East quarterfinals against the Islanders provided an opening, and Pratt stepped through.
Not only that, Ramsay said Pratt is not necessarily out of the lineup when Cullimore returns.
"It's something we'll look at," Ramsay said. "We make decisions based on someone's level of play. He has proved his willingness. He has played against top guys. He has done whatever we've asked."
"It's not something I want to get into now," Pratt said after Thursday's practice at the Ice Sports Forum. "We're winning and that's the most important thing right now. I'll guess I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I'm just doing what I can do."
Vindication? Pratt, 28, of Fort McMurray, Alberta, said he doesn't want to look at it that way. But there is something to be said for a player who was kicked in the gut and seethed internally but stayed focused and ready to play.
Not as easy as it sounds. Even Pratt admitted the seeming permanence of his demotion created moments when, "Basically, you've had enough."
Pratt said he expressed his frustration to coach John Tortorella and general manager Jay Feaster "just to make it known I wasn't happy."
He declined to spout off to the media, and took solace at home from wife Deborah and daughter Ella, 18 months, who "is giggling and running over to me to say hi."
Pratt also committed to honing his game.
"You get back to, "Well, if I do get a chance to play, I have to be ready because if I drop the ball, then it's my fault,' " he said. "That's what I kept in my head, do what I can to be ready."
Pratt appears better than ever. He is skating with confidence and his positioning has improved. He has zero points in six games, but is plus-4 and is averaging 17:50 of ice time, 1:25 more than the regular season.
"Part of it is I don't have anything to lose," Pratt said. "I knew my situation so I wasn't nervous about messing up. I know it sounds bad but it made it a little easier for me as far as coming and playing and doing what I can do and seeing what happens."
"What can you say about him?" Tortorella said. "We haven't missed a beat and Jassen is one of our top defensemen. You have to give him a tremendous amount of credit as far as how he takes care of himself and keeps himself ready."
