Neal carries the load in Pens victory December 30, 2013

James Neal played a part in all five of his team’s goals, Sunday, as the Pittsburgh Penguins defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets 5-3.  The 26-year-old winger led the charge with a hat trick, two assists and five shots on net.  Despite missing almost half the season with an upper body injury, Neal has been a dominant force for Pittsburgh, putting up 30 points in just 21 games. He currently leads the NHL in points per game with an impressive ratio of 1.43. 

For more on last night’s game, keep reading the nhl.com recap here.