Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Mike Smith left the ice during Monday's practice at the Ice Sports Forum with an injured ring finger on his right hand. Smith left the ice in visible pain, and the finger was unable to grip his stick. He will have X-rays later today to determine the extent of the injury.

Smith was supposed to play in Tuesday's preseason opener at Dallas. If he is unable, coach Guy Boucher said Dan Ellis will take his place. Cedrick Desjardins is the backup.

Smith, 28, in the final year of his two-year deal and coming off a sub-par season, was playing during power-play drills when he took a rebound shot from Steven Stamkos off his hand. Smith went down and briefly stayed there. He skated for a bit while holding the hand stiffly and eventually left the ice.

Smith and Dan Ellis are expected to carry the goaltending load for Tampa Bay, though it was unclear if either would be the true No. 1. Smith, so good during the first half of the 2008-09 season, has not been the same since a concussion in December 2008.