Dallas Stars Evening Update: James Neal Questionable

by Brandon Worley on Nov 5, 2009 7:05 PM CST in News Comment 5 comments

A couple of quick notes from today:

James Neal is questionable for tomorrow night's game against Vancouver after pulling a groin last night:

He pulled a groin on Wednesday and did not practice today. We'll see how it responds, but he was hanging around today and looked pretty good.

If Neal is out, we could see Toby Petersen come into the lineup, although I'm not sure it would be on that line. I woudn't mind seeing Steve Ott or Brian Sutherby up there, but then you get into the whole debate about whether you want to change two lines when you only have to change one.

The day after the first game of the season in which the entire team actually played together, we're faced with yet another nagging injury. While Neal is going to give it a go tomorrow and see if he can play, I'd rather he just wait until it's fully healed. The last thing this team needs is to have Neal in the "is he playing or not?" game every night.

More after the jump.

Andrew's Dallas Stars Page has the audio from Brenden Morrow's show on The Ticket today.

I think Brad and Razor shared a cab on the way home last night from the game. They both have very similar takes on last night's game.

No podcast this week. I apologize for the late notice, but the flu has swept Defending Big D headquarters.

Finally, Defending Big D will be presenting an exclusive interview with Scott Glennie sometime this weekend. If you have any specific questions you'd like us to ask, let us know in the comments.

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Oh noes!

He better play, as I finally scored tickets to tomorrows game, and will also be getting my blank Stars jersey christened with his name. :B

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Ryan Mendenhall
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Fan of: DALLAS STARS, Chelsea F.C., England National Soccer Team!

by RyanM on Nov 5, 2009 7:40 PM CST reply actions

I worry

About an injury like that to a guy like Neal. He seems to be….unbridled in the way he plays the game and moves his feet. If he pushed it to hard and said “Naa I can play” and then pursues the puck like he does, he could make it worse.

You just have to trust that he’s a professional and will do what is best for his body and the team.

by Brad Gardner on Nov 5, 2009 10:02 PM CST reply actions

too* hard, I meant.

by Brad Gardner on Nov 5, 2009 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

Like I said earlier, Neal with a pulled groin? He and B-Rad really do do everything together. =P

But on a serious note, that line has been so on it every shift, an over-exertion kind of injury was bound to happen. Like, uh, the other Brad mentioned above, he throws himself about with such reckless abandon, and the other teams are starting to put so much heat on him, he’s going to be a target. The second line has got to get something going, if anything, to take the heat of the top line. They are going to play themselves into the ground, and it is only November.

by schtimpy27 on Nov 6, 2009 12:16 AM CST reply actions

Ott

Put Ott on that line. He’s the closest thing to Neal that the Stars have. I’ve been thinking that they should consider putting him back on the 1st or 2nd line in any case.

by jabudi on Nov 6, 2009 8:52 AM CST reply actions