NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Predators forward James Neal admits having a goal scorer’s mentality. Then again, that’s what he’s being paid to do.
Neal has backed it up, too, scoring 88 goals the past three seasons — fifth-most in the NHL during the stretch — while playing for the Penguins. But a draft-day trade brought him to the Predators, whose avowed mission under first-year coach Peter Laviolette is to improve scoring for a team long famished in that area.
In scoring eight goals to rank seventh in the league this season, Neal has played a large part — along with top linemates Michael Ribeiro at center and rookie Filip Forsberg on the other wing — in the Predators (10-3-2) getting off to their second-fastest start ever.
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