April 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins seemed to rid themselves of sloppy tendencies in the second half of their game in Boston. Their star power, though, was evident throughout. Center Sidney Crosby scored twice, and right wing James Neal scored his 40th goal of the season, as the Penguins emerged from Boston with a 5-3 victory. "It feels good," said Neal, who became the NHL's fourth player this season to reach 40 goals. "Things have been great here playing with Geno (Evgeni Malkin) and Kuny (Chris Kunitz)." Neal deflected all of the attention, but his teammates weren't buying it."
March 21
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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If this was a glimpse of games to come, Consol Energy Center's crowd had better arrive with a few extra hats. On Tuesday night, they almost ran out. James Neal had three goals, and Evgeni Malkin and Tyler Kennedy each scored twice, as the Penguins claimed a wide-open 8-4 victory last night over the Winnipeg Jets. With Sidney Crosby playing his first home game in months, the Penguins flaunted their unmatched skill. Crosby had four assists, including two perfect passes to Kennedy from behind Winnipeg's net. Since Crosby's return, the Penguins have at least five goals in three of four games. "Games like that are hard to describe sometimes," Crosby said. "We just kept scoring.""
March 6
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Phoenix coach Dave Tippett was an assistant coach in Dallas when right wing James Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen entered the NHL. He isn't surprised to see the duo having success following their trade to the Penguins last season. "There's a lot of players in this league who envy Nealer's position," Tippett said. "He's a young player that grew and comes in and gets to play with (Evgeni) Malkin. That's a great spot to be in. But the thing that makes Nealer special — there's a lot of people who get that opportunity. There's not many that take advantage of it. Nealer's taken advantage of it. He's a good player and a good person." Tippett said the Penguins have used Niskanen perfectly."
February 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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After a sluggish start to his Penguins' tenure, James Neal has proven he can be the scoring winger the team had coveted. And the Penguins weren't about to let him go. The Penguins announced Sunday they signed their All-Star right wing to a six-year, $30 million extension, a deal that not only rewards Neal but also should not prohibit the team from signing centers Sidney Crosby and Jordan Staal to extensions. Crosby's and Staal's contracts expire in summer 2013, and general manager Ray Shero can begin negotiating new deals with them this summer. "We felt like (it was) a good term, a good fit for both (parties)," Shero said of the Neal deal."
January 30
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Fittingly, as the capper to a four-day stretch over which he constantly unveiled a personality worthy of attention, Penguins center Evgeni Malkin delivered a wicked one-liner about his own teammate after the NHL All-Star Game on Sunday. Of course, defenseman Kris Letang was not a teammate of Malkin's at Scotiabank Place. "Kris plays sometimes in (the) offensive zone, not defensive zone," Malkin said, referring to his set-up of Calgary Flames right winger Jarome Iginla's goal with Letang unsuccessfully defending on the sequence. "(Letang) gives me a chance to score, you know — so I say thank you to him.""
January 18
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
columnist Dejan Kovacevic
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As James Neal dashed down the ice Tuesday night for the decisive shootout try, having started from what seemed like another ZIP code, he had a singular thought once he finally sized up Cam Ward in the Carolina crease. "I usually pick what I'm going to do," Neal recalled. "I usually have something in my head." He did this time, too, but adjusted at the last second. "I just kind of switched up at the end." You'd never have known by its smoothness. The Penguins had been aiming at Ward's glove all night, but Neal neared, then swept across the slot — no pause, no hitch — and buried a forehand flick past the blocker side to seal a 2-1 victory at Consol Energy Center. That's what goal scorers do."
January 14
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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Penguins right wing James Neal said he intends to use his All-Star Game snub as motivation for the second half of the season. When asked if the slight could ignite a hot streak, Neal nodded. "Of course," he said. "Any time you don't get picked for something like that, it's disappointing when you're up there (for consideration)." Many of his teammates said they were surprised Neal was omitted from the game in Ottawa on Jan. 29. Center Evgeni Malkin is the team's lone representative. Coach Dan Bylsma said he thought Neal's first half would warrant an selection. The 24-year-old forward is leading the team with 21 goals, which ranks sixth in the NHL. His 10 power-play goals are tops in the"
January 10
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins actually received some good injury news today. Right wing James Neal, the team's leading goal scorer, does not have a broken foot and will play tonight against Ottawa. Two days earlier, coach Dan Bylsma said Neal was out "weeks, not days." However, what originally appeared to be a fracture on X-rays was actually a pre-existing injury. "I'm good to go," said Neal, who explained he will simply deal with any pain that comes with the injury."
December 25
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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There is that moment for any NHL goal-scorer, the moment the puck reaches the stick blade, the moment the mind essentially must be made up between two stark options: A. I'm going to score. B. I'm not going to score. There are all kinds of numbers to support the case that the Penguins' James Neal has emerged this season into a legitimate sniper, not least of which is that his 20 goals is one off the league-leading 21 by the New York Rangers' Marian Gaborik. But to fully understand why, it's probably best in Neal's case to go to that moment. "When I'm playing with that confidence, playing with that attitude, you can visualize," Neal said late Friday night at MTS Centre after that 20th goal"
November 4
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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When the NHL trade deadline rolls around in about four months, the annual demand for Penguins general manager Ray Shero to acquire a scoring winger will erupt. But this time, such a move might be unnecessary. Despite not having the prodigious playmaking skills of centers Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin for much of the season's first month, the Penguins are receiving scoring from, of all places, their wingers. One of the wingers off to a strong start realizes that fans will still expect the Penguins to enhance their team with a "scoring winger" at some point during the season. "They'll say that every year," right wing Pascal Dupuis said. "We're used to that. I can only bring what I can"
October 21
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Neal has scored a lot of goals early this NHL season, but Penguins general manager Ray Shero said there is no rush to begin talks about a contract extension. Neal scored his team-best seventh goal, tied for the league lead, Thursday night for the Penguins in a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Consol Energy Center. He could become a restricted free agent July 1 and will be eligible for salary arbitration, but the Penguins would retain his rights. "We'll likely wait a little bit," Shero said of potential extension talks with Neal's agent, Pat Morris. "He has an agent I've dealt with well over the years. When the time comes, we'll get something done. There's no doubt in that.""
October 20
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Neal's formula for finding the back of the net seems glaringly obvious: Shooting low is good, shooting high bad. In the Penguins' eight games, he has six goals — most on the team and one behind NHL leader Phil Kessel of Toronto — and all have come on low shots. His shooting percentage is an outstanding 18.8. After being acquired from Dallas at the trade deadline last season, he scored just two goals in 27 games while shooting almost exclusively high. His shooting percentage was 2.7, a figure that would make a stay-at-home defenseman cringe, much less a first-line left winger. Still, Neal insists no change in his approach was made, and no change is forthcoming."
September 19
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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The Penguins are thrilled to welcome Evgeni Malkin and, eventually, a healthy Sidney Crosby back to their lineup. Having the real James Neal also should make for a nice addition. Neal, acquired from Dallas in February, scored only two goals in 27 games with the Penguins but has made a believer out of coach Dan Bylsma. "James Neal is a 20-goal scorer," Bylsma said, "and we think he can score 30." Neal's pedigree suggests such numbers are likely after scoring 24 and 27 goals, respectively, during his first two NHL seasons in Dallas. Neal was on pace for 30 goals before being traded to the Penguins, who were without Crosby and Malkin. He dealt with playing without the team's top playmaking"
April 21
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Neal didn't shed the label of trade-deadline bust because of a fluke shot. He did so because of what teammates are calling a valiant effort. Neal is battling an injury - no one is revealing the nature of it - and was questionable to play against the Lightning in Game 4 on Wednesday. He not only played, but he beat Tampa Bay goalie Dwayne Roloson on a bad-angle shot to lift the Penguins to a 3-2 double-overtime victory. "I'm really happy for him because nobody knows what he's endured over the past 48 or 72 hours," Penguins defenseman Brooks Orpik said. Neal's injury figures to remain a mystery. He did not practice Tuesday and did not participate in yesterday's morning skate, raising"
February 24
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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James Neal, the Penguins' newest hope to fill their need for a long-term impact winger, scored a considerable endorsement Wednesday morning. "I've (always) liked him," Penguins center Sidney Crosby said. "He's a good player." A left wing with at least 20 goals in three NHL seasons, Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen were acquired from Dallas on Monday in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski. In his first game with the Penguins last night against the San Jose Sharks at Consol Energy Center, Neal skated on a line with center Jordan Staal and right wing Pascal Dupuis."
February 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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After spending time with Penguins general manager Ray Shero a few weeks ago, an NHL agent predicted a busy trade-deadline period wouldn't pass without Shero making a move. Correctly, the agent noted, Shero always makes a move at or before the deadline. The move Shero made Monday was unlike any during his five-year tenure with the Penguins. For the cost of defenseman Alex Goligoski, the Penguins landed another defenseman slotted for the No. 5 spot, Matt Niskanen. However, the real prize they acquired from the Dallas Stars was left wing James Neal - a big, strong, cannon-shot left winger who has scored at least 20 goals in each of his NHL seasons. The difference between Neal and past"
February 22
Pittsburgh Tribune Review
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For the second time in three seasons the Penguins have traded a young puck-moving defenseman for a scoring-line winger to complement one of their cornerstone centers. The question now is if left wing James Neal, acquired today from the Dallas Stars, will have to wait until next season to play with either Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. A season-ending injury to Malkin and the unknown status of Crosby wasn't enough of a deterrent today for Penguins general manager Ray Shero to hesitate on trading his second-leading scoring defenseman, Alex Goligoski, for Neal and defenseman Matt Niskanen. "A lot of teams have called about Alex in the past couple of months," Shero said. "I made it clear I"