After allowing three power-play goals on Thursday in Los Angeles, Nashville went 4-for-4 on the penalty kill and blocked 18 shots on the afternoon, including a team-leading four from Austin Watson in a gutsy road win.
"It changes the whole road trip for sure," Neal said. "These are good teams out here and all hard fought games. You battle in that first game in Anaheim and come close to getting two points in overtime, and you go into L.A. and do the same, so to pick up a win to have a nice, happy flight home, it was a good road trip for us"
Neal on the Board:
Video: NSH@SJS: Neal beats Jones on sharp one-timer
A 10-game period without a goal and one in his last 19, James Neal was hounding every opponent's net looking to break out.
After another shot off the post on Thursday and two in-tight chances against the Sharks, Neal was helped by a strong play from Colin Wilson on the forecheck. No. 33 earned his eighth point in the last 12 games when he stripped a Sharks' defenseman of the puck behind the goal line and centered to a wide-open Neal in the slot.
Neal made no mistake on the chance, one-timing the puck past the blocker of Jones.
"It's been a while, but you're going to go into slumps throughout your career, and you have to keep battling through them," Neal said. "You have to look at your game when you're not getting chances and get into the shot column. I had some good looks on the trip… just get that confidence and offensively, you're going to get one,"
P.A. Debut:
Forward P.A. Parenteau spoke on Friday of his frustration at being unable to show his new team his on-ice capabilities, but on Saturday he was able to suit up for the first time.
On his sixth team (Avalanche, Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Islanders, Devils and Preds) in four years, the veteran was acquired by Nashville on March 1, but was forced to tend to an upper-body injury before finally skating in his new sweater.
"I felt better as the game went on," Parenteau said. "A little nervous in the first period, but as a team and for myself, I think we stuck with it. We didn't make any mistakes, we played the right way and we came out up top."
If all goes according to plan, Parenteau's second game with the Preds will come on Monday at Bridgestone Arena, one the winger is already thinking about as the club heads home.
"I'm really excited," Parenteau said. "I saw the game against Chicago, saw the vibe in the building, and it's an amazing place to play hockey. I'm looking forward to my first [home] game."