Stars News and Notes: Neal set to return
/Andrew's Dallas Stars Page
After sitting out two games because on an NHL suspension, Stars left wing James Neal is set to return to the lineup Wednesday night against the St. Louis Blues.
"I'm ready. I can't wait to play," Neal said after Tuesday's practice in Frisco. "It's good to watch a few games from upstairs. You see a few things you don't when you are down there. I am ready to come back. I am excited and hopefully I can come in and help the team keep winning. They've been playing great without me, so that's good to see."
The NHL suspended Neal two goals for a hit on Columbus forward Derek Dorsett, who suffered an injury and is still out of the lineup.
The league labeled it a hit from behind in handing down the suspension. Neal said he didn't do it deliberately and will continue to play the way he's always played, and that's physical.
"You can't slow up your game because you're worried about stuff like that. You've got to keep playing," said Neal. "I've done it my whole life. Never in my life have I got suspended from a game for a hit like that. I didn't mean to hit him from behind."
Stars head coach Marc Crawford said he expects the same style of play from Neal as well.
"There was no malicious intent there. He was just a little reckless. He's served his time and you move on," said Crawford. "He's got to continue to play hard and he will."
Neal is the team's top goal scorer this season with 11 and ranks second on the team in points with 22.
"I think for us to get two wins without him in the lineup speaks volumes of the players that played in that position, both five-on-five with [Tom] Wandell and on the power play with people like [Steve Ott] and Jamie Benn, who scored in the game Monday night," said Crawford. "On the other side of it, you hope he comes back with a vengeance and really wants to play a hard game and a very determined game. He's going to have some freshness that we're going to need against a very determined St. Louis Blues team."
Stars Roster moves: Fortunus recalled, Brunnstrom to AHL for conditioning
The Stars recalled defenseman Maxime Fortunus from the Texas Stars of the AHL on Tuesday due to a couple of injuries on the blue line.
Nicklas Grossman, who missed Monday's game against Carolina with a groin injury, did not practice Tuesday and is doubtful for Wednesday's game against St. Louis.
Defenseman Karlis Skrastins did not practice on Tuesday after getting injured while blocking a shot in Monday's game. Stars coach Marc Crawford indicated after Tuesday's practice that he expected Skrastins to OK.
To be safe, the Stars brought up Fortunus, who has three goals and two assists in 22 games with Texas this season.
Center Warren Peters, who has called up last week, was sent back to the Texas Stars.
The Stars also activated right wing Fabian Brunnstrom from injured reserve and sent him to the Texas Stars on a conditioning assignment. Brunnstrom has missed the Stars' last six games with a shoulder injury. He remains on the active roster.
Forward Brian Sutherby, who has missed the last five games with a groin injury, was placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 12.
Here are the transactions:
| Player | Pos | Transaction |
| Fabian Brunnstrom | RW | Activated from IR, assigned to Texas (AHL) for conditioning |
| Brian Sutherby | LW | Placed on IR, retroactive to November 12 |
| Warren Peters | C | Assigned to Texas (AHL) |
| Maxime Fortunus | D | Recalled from Texas (AHL) |
Notes
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Brenden Morrow, Brad Richards, Mike Ribeiro, Mike Modano and Jere Lehtinen did not practice Tuesday. They were given the day off for rest and/or maintenance.
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Stars head coach Marc Crawford said Marty Turco would start in goal Wednesday against St. Louis.
Stars to honor Hull Wednesday
The Stars will honor Brett Hull prior to the game for his recent induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:50 pm. The ceremony is scheduled to start at 6:55 pm. Puck drop for Wednesday's game against St. Louis is 7:15 pm. The game is being carried nationally by Versus.
Quotable
"They're all great."
Stars goalie Marty Turco when asked during a Hockey Night in Canada radio interview if Monday night's shutout against Carolina was a hard one or an easy one.
