Lightning's sweet victory has a sour tinge

Vinny Prospal keys the  win, then has unpleasant words, apparently for coach John Tortorella.

By DAMIAN CRISTODERO
Published February 13, 2008

Vinny Prospal fires a shot that beats Cristobal Huet to tie the score at 2 late in the first period. Prospal, who returned to the top line against Montreal, also had the winning goal.
	[Dirk Shadd | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Dirk Shadd | Times] From left, Paul Ranger, Karri Ramo, and Craig MacDonald celebrate the victory over the Canadiens, who entered as the league's second-best road team.

TAMPA - Lightning forward Vinny Prospal celebrated his second goal Tuesday night, the winner, as it turned out, by dropping to his knees and pumping his fist.

He then he punctuated the 3-2 victory over the Canadiens by ripping coach John Tortorella in a Sun Sports television interview that also was shown on the St. Pete Times Forum scoreboard.

Well, it seemed as if he ripped Tortorella, though neither Prospal nor the coach would talk about what was said or the 25-minute closed-door meeting they had with general manager Jay Feaster.

"Ah, I'm not worried about that," Tortorella said. "I'm worried about the team winning. ... Athletes who are mad, to me, are good athletes."

Prospal, who tied his career high with 25 goals, told interviewer Paul Kennedy the game was one of the most satisfying moments of his career, adding he felt as if he, to be blunt, shoved it up somebody's backside.

Kennedy asked to whom Prospal was referring.

"I would like to think," he said, "they know who they are."

"They" had taken Prospal off the top line with Vinny Lecavalier and Marty St. Louis to accommodate an experiment that began Jan. 29 against the Sabres in which Brad Richards played the line's left wing.

Prospal, centering the second line, saw his ice time decline and played fewer than 12 minutes in three previous games.

"I'm not here to be the happy man and make everybody happy," Tortorella said. "I'm here to make calls as far as the game is concerned."

Back on the top line against Montreal, Prospal found new life. He tied the score at 2 with 40.4 seconds left in the first period and tallied the winner with 8:09 left in the third, both with assists by Lecavalier.

"When I go out there with those two guys, it's like being on the best line in hockey," Prospal said. "Marty and Vinny found me all night."

Michel Ouellet scored his first goal in seven games since returning from a separated left shoulder, and goaltender Karri Ramo made 19 saves, including a stunner on Sergei Kostitsyn with 13.2 seconds left in which he did the split.

It was an important victory as Tampa Bay (24-27-6 and with 54 points) stayed seven points behind first-place Carolina in the Southeast. It also was satisfying as Montreal, with 38 points, entered as the league's second-best road team while Tampa Bay was on a 3-10-1 streak at home.

But the focus was on Prospal, who played 17:50, had a game-high six shots and his second straight winner.

"I hope I'm not done," he said after his fifth goal in seven games. "It feels really good."

As for his Sun Sports comments, Prospal said, "I'd rather not talk about it if you don't mind."

Asked if he sensed relief in Prospal, Tortorella said, "I'm sure there was quite a bit of relief and a few other things, too. That's life. He played really well. Athletes that are upset, they contribute and help the team win, coaches are happy.

"This isn't a touchy-feely thing here or lovefest. This is a game of hockey and we're fighting for our life."

[Last modified February 13, 2008, 01:05:44]