James Neal does big things in hockey games. Pop off the page Picasso moments. Big Game James and The Real Deal are not the nicknames of an artist steeped in subtlety.
But there is more to Neal than the obvious. Yes, game winning goals are high on the resume but there is depth and professionalism to the Neal package which sometimes doesn't make the highlights.
Take Sunday night for instance. With the Vegas Golden Knights trailing 1-0 and the Los Angeles Kings threatening to take their first win of the series - composure looked to be an issue for Vegas. Winger Jonathan Marchessault took a regrettable slashing penalty which resulted in Kings defensemen Drew Doughty and goalie Jonathan Quick to engage in a little taunting. Quick skated out of his crease to clap his stick and Doughty mockingly tapped his temple. In the box, Marchessault seethed.
As the period ended, however, and Marchessault popped out of the box to skate to the dressing room tunnel, Neal greeted him and ushered him to the bench, chatting all the way.
James Neal Taking Advantage Of Leadership Opportunity
"He just told me to relax," said Marchessault, a day after the Golden Knights took a 3-2 win over the Kings which pushed them to a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven series. "He said the first three games in the playoffs, he was doing the same thing. Just to relax. I'm aware that I'm going to get picked on and it's part of the game. I need to keep my composure. It's playoffs and I cannot get involved with them."
Marchessault is a major cog for Vegas. He says Neal is critical to the team's success and has taken on even more responsibility now that the playoffs have arrived.
"James was always a leader, but in the playoffs he's definitely stepped up on the ice and off the ice," said Marchessault. "I think that's what we needed as a group to have a good leader. We have good leaders, but to have him step up with all of the experience he has in playoffs has definitely played a big part. He talks a lot in the room in between periods, but he definitely shows up on the ice and I think that's what a good leader is all about.
Neal took some time to chat on Monday morning.
What goes through your mind or your internal clock that allows you to be a more emotional player during the playoffs ?
I think it's better emotionally. It's just raising your level. I think it's all of those things. But I think it's just the compete level and the drive to want to win. It's a drive when the game is on the line to want to perform at big times and big moments. You love the feeling of winning, that's it.
Did anything go through your mind during the trade deadline ? Was there any thought in your mind that maybe management might do something and when they didn ' t , were you happy they put faith in you ?
There wasn't really much going through my mind at the trade deadline. Our team was doing too well and we had such a good group. I didn't think we'd switch things up or make a big trade. I want that pressure. I want them to count on me to be that guy. I came here wanting to be a leader and wanting to help out in any way that I could. This is the time where I have experience. I've been through a lot of different series in the playoffs. I went to the finals last year and I think when you go through the ups and the downs of playoffs. What your body goes through, what you go through emotionally, what your team goes through and what you go through with your teammates. All of those things. You learn a lot about yourself, you learn a lot about how you play and what you need to do to be successful in the playoffs. Just trying to help bring that experience to younger guys who maybe haven't been in those situations. That being said, I like the way we're playing. I like our composure in these situations and we'll continue to roll here. One more game here and they're going to be a desperate team. They've been in this situation before.
It looked like you kind of said a few things to Jonathan Marchessault after the second period . That looked like real leadership from afar .
Yeah, Doughty goes after him there a little bit and gives him a couple of shots. He doesn't do much back, but he gets a penalty. Marchy is a younger guy who plays with a lot of emotion. I think if I was looking back, that's the biggest thing I've tried to change in my game. Those little penalties, you just need to stay out. Marchy knows and we talked about it last night after the game. He's one of our best players. Like I said, we need him on the ice and we need him to score big goals. We know he will and he's been a huge part of our team all year. He's fine, it's not a big deal at all. You need to know in situations that discipline is so key in the playoffs. You can't preach it enough just to stay out of the box. You're never going to get any favors. Just try not to put yourself in these spots. It gets you in a little bit of trouble. Our team is great on the PK and bailed him out. The first thing he said was thanks and he'll get us one back.
What did you learn about yourself in the playoffs last year when you went all the way to the final with Nashville ?
I think you learn a lot. I think it was mainly how taxing it is on your body going through the rounds and what you have to do to rest, recover and try to get back to neutral. Try to get back to where you are before so you could try to start another one and go into that battle again. But I think staying in the moment, being able to put things behind you just as quick as they happen. Whether it's a win or a loss, you need to move forward and just focus on the next game. It comes quick and you can't have emotions drifting over to the next game or the next practice. You have to wake up and have a clean mindset. Come to the rink and get ready to do it all over again. It's about being disciplined and being under control, even in a crazy situation, it's really hard to do. I think when you have a little bit of experience and you've been in those situations before, you learn to calm yourself down a little bit and continue to work.
Is this team special to you ?
This team is very special to me. Ten days after going to the Stanley Cup Final with a team that I put everything into and did everything that I can to try to win a Stanley and build to be a Stanley Cup winning team and being left unprotected. Ultimately being picked up by Vegas and then coming here and wanting to be a guy that they can be a guy that they can count on. Wanting to be a leader and wanting to be that guy, I think means a lot. These guys in the room have been great. They listen, they're smart, they're composed. From Day 1, everyone kind of had a new slate. A chance to win and a chance to do good things. I think everyone had the same mindset. It's pretty impressive how our team has come together so quick. We play for each other. The way our coaching staff, management and everyone has been with our group has been amazing. Trying to stay in the moment, just because we're having so much fun. We're enjoying each other and we're enjoying our game. I think when we're older and we look back on this year, it's going to be something.
What ' s it like playing for Gerard Gallant ?
(Gallant) He's very fair. If you work and compete for him, you'll get your ice time. He wants to win. That being said, I think for our group, guys maybe coming from teams where the coach was hard on them, they didn't work through it properly or they didn't get the chance or the ice time or whatever went wrong, they got that chance here. Turk's very fair with giving you chances to play. If you make a mistake, he might say something to you on the bench, but two seconds later, he's encouraging you to go and do it again. I think that's been so big for our group. Guys are not scared to do things. They're out there playing their game and what's made them good players and what's brought them to this position and this point in their career. It's a lot of fun playing for him.
This is our room. It's the leaders' room. It's the older guys' room. You obviously have a coach that's going to guide you, put your systems in place, but we've got to have ownership in ourselves and in the guys next to you. That's something he said from Day 1, and it's been great. So we have a great group of guys here. Management did an unbelievable job of putting pieces together that could play with each other and fit into a team. Obviously we came together, but we really had a team set from our goaltending out. We're solid.
