Rangers' Prospal will return vs. Devils

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Two weeks after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, Vinny Prospal said he will be back on the ice Tuesday night when the Rangers host the Devils.

“It feels great,” Prospal said Monday after going through practice wearing a yellow no-contact jersey. “I really don’t want to be out any longer.”

Rangers coach John Tortorella confirmed that Prospal will play Tuesday night, but said he hadn’t figured out how he will handle his lines. Monday, Prospal skated as the left wing on the top line along with center Erik Christensen and Marian Gaborik, so it’s a good bet that will be the situation Tuesday night.

Brandon Dubinsky dropped to left wing on the second line with Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan. Sean Avery, at least for practice, was on the right side of Artem Anisimov and Chris Higgins. And four wingers — Ales Kotalik, Enver Lisin, Donald Brashear and Aaron Voros — rotated around center Brian Boyle on line rushes.

Prospal suffered a torn meniscus on Dec. 26 in the Rangers’ 3-2 overtime loss to the Islanders. He had surgery to repair the tear Dec. 28. If he returns Tuesday night as expected, the 34-year-old will have missed only seven games.

In 38 games this season, Prospal has eight goals and 32 points. His 24 assists were tops on the Rangers and 19th best in the league when he was injured.

Prospal, in his first season with the Rangers, said he initially circled this game as a possible return date after having the surgery and is thrilled that his rehabilitation has gone as well as it has.

“I’ve been talking about this at home for three or four days now. I’m so excited. I feel like a kid,” Prospal said. “No one wants to be sitting out. New Jersey is the best team in our conference, so this is going to be a really good test for us.”

Notes & quotes: Team USA announced its captains and alternates Monday and Chris Drury was not among them. Team USA general manager BrianBrian Burkeannounced its captains and alternates Monday and ChrisChris Druryits captains and alternates Monday and Chris Drury was not among them. Team USA general manager Brian Burke announced that Devils captain Jamie Langenbrunner will wear the ‘C’ for Team USA with Devils left wing Zach Parise, Detroit’s Brian Rafalski, Nashville’s Ryan Suter and Los Angeles’ Dustin Brown rotating as the alternate captains. Earlier, Drury didn’t want to talk about the captain selections, but when asked if it mattered to him, he said “no.” Burke, when asked about Drury’s non-selection during a telephone conference, got a little excited. “Leaders lead. Leaders don’t need a letter to lead,” Burke said. “If you need a letter to lead, then you’re not a leader, anyhow. We know what Chris Drury can bring.”