Winger James Neal, who suffered an apparent ankle injury during Game 1, is not participating in the Penguins' practice.
Neal left yesterday's game and did not return. The Pens had the game locked-up so they might have kept him out as a precaution.
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James Neal News
Neal was a regular at practice this morning.
Neal skated on a line with Malkin and Kunitz and practiced on the team's #1 power-play unit. It sure looks like he will be back in the lineup tomorrow vs. the Hurricanes. He has missed the last nine games with a concussion.
Neal has a concussion and will miss the 3-game road trip, per coach Bylsma #Pens
First Crosby, now Neal. He took a hard elbow from Michael Del Zotto on Friday and did not return. Brenden Morrow will move into the top-6 to replace Neal.
James Neal is not at #Penguins practice. Will get an update afterward.
Neal left Friday's game after taking an elbow to the head from Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto. We will update as soon as the Penguins release an update.
Bylsma: No update on James Neal. #Penguins
Neal left yesterday's game after taking an elbow to the head from Rangers defenseman Michael Del-Zotto.
Line Change
Neal playing with Crosby at #Pens morning skate: Kunitz-Crosby-Neal
With Malkin out it looks as if the Penguins are going to move Neal up to the first line to play with Crosby. This is good news for Neal's owners as his production was likely to dip a little with the absence of Malkin. This hurts Pascal Dupuis however, who will now play with Beau Bennett and Brandon Sutter.
Suspension
#Pens James Neal suspended for 1 game
The Penguins will be without James Neal in Game 4 when they look to stay alive against the Flyers.
Source:
NHL 2012-04-17T23:31:21.000Z
Line Change
James Neal just stepped on the ice for #Pens practice. He missed the last 2 games with a lower-body injury. -MC
Neal is not expected to miss any time in the playoffs. He scored 40 goals and 81 points through 80 games this season.
Neal, Niskanen, Sullivan not participating in Penguins' warmups.
Neal will take off today's game in order to heal up for the playoffs. He scored 40 goals and 81 points through 80 games this season.
Per #Pens Coach Dan Bylsma: Neal lower-body
Neal will take off tonight's game in order to heal up for the playoffs. He scored 40 goals and 81 points through 80 games this season.
BUFFALO — The Penguins have signed right wing James Neal to a six-year, $30 million contract extension, the team announced this morning. Neal was set to be a restricted free agent following this season.
Great deal for the Pens as they lock up arguably their most prolific scorer. Neal scored 30 goals and 56 points through 58 games in his first full season in Pittsburgh.
Hot Streak
Left wing James Neal is also having a good time, with five goals and five assists during the winning streak while playing on Malkin's line.
Neal is flourishing on Malkin's line with 10 points in the last 6 and is putting together the best season of his young career.
Line Change
"I'm good to go. I'm ready to play tonight." - James Neal
Apparently Neal's broken foot can be played on. He told the team he will play tonight and practiced on the top PP unit. Feel free to start him accordingly.
James Neal has a broken foot
Neal is expected to miss 'weeks' with this broken foot. In his breakout season, the power forward has 21 goals and 36 points in 40 games. No word on who replaces him next to Evgeni Malkin and Chris Kunitz.
Hot Streak
James Neal is on pace for 66 goals.
Neal scored yet another goal last night, his third in a row and his seventh in as many games.
Neal, who leads the team with seven goals, also did not participate in a Thursday morning skate after a team day off Wednesday, but he insisted he is not hurt.
"Everyone's going to be dealing with soreness and bruises," he said. "But it's just taking a skate off and resting up for [tonight]."
Neal leads the League with seven goals (and one assist, on pace for the Cy Young). Look for him to continue his monstrous tear with or without Evgeni Malkin.
Line Change
Neal expected to play tonight according to Bylsma
Neal missed practice today but should play tonight. His six goals are second to only Phil Kessel as far as League leaders are concerned. Feel free to start him tonight.
Hot Streak
Stat of week: After scoring 2 goals in 27 games for Penguins last season, James Neal has six goals in his first 8 games this season.
Neal has been on an absolute tear with whoever he lines up with. If he is for whatever reason available in your fantasy hockey league, grab him at all costs.
Line Change
Regardless of whether Neal ends up playing alongside Crosby and Kunitz, Evgeni Malkin and Steve Sullivan or, for that matter, Marc-Andre Fleury and a fire hydrant, the Penguins will be counting on him to generate a minimum of 20 goals, and they'd prefer something a lot closer to 30.
With those linemates, How can Neal not pot 30 goals. The 24-year-old scored 72 goals over three seasons in Dallas and should break out this season. As a natural goal scorer with dual-wing eligibility on a cup contender, Neal should easily make the cut as a #2 winger
James Neal, a left winger by trade, is penciled in on the right side of a line with Sidney Crosby and Chris Kunitz.
Blysma did not disclose whether or not Neal would move to RW without Crosby. In any event, adding RW position-eligibility would certainly help the former's fantasy value.
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