Twelve years ago today, the Penguins were bruised and battered in the postseason, without their two superstars in the lineup — and James Neal made it a magical night for Pittsburgh hockey fans.
The Penguins somehow made the postseason without Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, both out with respective injuries, but that didn’t stop then-GM Ray Shero from loading up with an asset at the trade deadeline, acquiring winger James Neal from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Alex Goligoski.
Neal’s start in Pittsburgh was less than desirable, as he went on an ice-cold streak headed into the postseason.