Struggling Neal knows he’s ‘got to be better’

James Neal is used to letting his stick do the talking.

But with just three goals to his name, the NHL sniper is pretty much at a loss for words these days.

Ten straight seasons of scoring 20-plus goals usually speaks volumes to satisfy the hockey questions.

So Tuesday, the Calgary Flames veteran struggled to find an answer when asked “What’s wrong ? Why all the troubles to find the back of the net?”

“It’s tough, for sure,” said Neal, seemingly humbled by the sluggish start to the campaign. “It’s obviously not the ideal start, but the team’s doing well, so that’s a good thing. I’ve got to get my play going. It’s been up and down for me, obviously. It’s been a change for me. I’ve just got to be better.”

Neal appeared openly troubled by the issue at hand, taking a deep breath or two each time he answered the questions he knew were coming.

“I’ve just got to get myself going,” Neal continued. “Wherever I’m slotted in, I’ve got to do my best to help the team win. For me, I’m a guy who scores goals and has a good ability to get open and find spaces and get pucks to the net. I’ve got a good shot, but I’m not getting the amount of shots I need.

“Overall, I just have to be better.”

The 11-year veteran was stapled to the bench in the third period of Sunday’s 3-1 loss to the host San Jose Sharks, appearing in just 8:03 of the final game of the California road trip.

That while the Flames trailed by a goal and looking for some kind of timely twine-bender, the kind of player Neal is used to being.

“Yeah, I wanted to be out there,” said Neal, who has just one assist on the year, to boot. “We needed a big goal and that’s why I want to score one.”

Neal was brought in during the off-season to help the Flames fill the net.

His 266 career goals are proof of that.

“We went down to nine (forwards in that third period in San Jose),” said Flames head coach Bill Peters. “We went down to nine seven times (this season). We went down to nine in Buffalo, and we were better in the third period. Each time we’ve done it out of the seven times, it’s been a different combination of players. So we picked the best nine guys and try and put them on three lines and go from there. So whatever night it is, whoever’s in the top nine guys is going to play.”

Apparently, Neal wasn’t among the top nine Sunday night.

But in fairness to the sniper, the entire team struggled to score on the three-game California swing. It netted just four goals while going 1-2.

“We need goals from everybody,” Peters said. “You look at our trip … she’s drying up, eh, boys? Guys know how to check now. Guys have checked in. It’s not summer hockey anymore.

“And it’s not about individuals. It’s about each line finding a way to make a positive impact on the game.”

On that note, Peters has shuffled his lines — at least for Tuesday’s practice — with Neal taking a spot on the right side with centre Mark Jankowski and left-winger Dillon Dube, who is fresh off from concussion protocol.

Stay tuned to see if it sparks Neal for Thursday’s game against the visiting Montreal Canadiens at the Saddledome (7 p.m., Sportsnet West/Sportsnet 960 The Fan).

“I think he’s real close (to having a breakthrough),” Peters said of Neal. “I thought he was great here (Tuesday in practice). What’s going to help him is if he’s playing with (Jankowski).

“Janko’s playing better. Janko’s responded really well here in the last two or three games. He’s powerful. He’s had the puck lots.”