from Mark Spector of Sportsnet,
James “The Real Deal” Neal has become “The Real Steal.”
Lifted from Calgary in exchange for lumbering Milan Lucic, Neal has stormed out of the gates in record-setting fashion in Edmonton, scoring four times in a 5-2 Oilers win Tuesday night on Long Island.
He now has six goals in Edmonton’s first three games, all regulation victories. No one in Oilers history — not Wayne Gretzky, not Jari Kurri, not Mark Messier or Glenn Anderson — ever had six goals after three games.
Truly, we thought those kinds of team record were…
“Safe?” asked centre Ryan Nugent-Hopkins....
“Well,” Neal smiled,” I’ve scored goals my whole career. I put pressure on myself to score goals, I want that pressure, and last year was a tough year. I wanted a chance to prove myself. I came here, and had people who believed I could bounce back, put a good season together, and help a team get to the playoffs.
“It feels good to have that confidence in me.”
Watch Neal's four goal night below.
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