by MIKE HEIKA, Staff Writer mheika@dallasnews.com , THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Neal returned to practice Tuesday after missing two games with a groin injury that was probably a result of his "popularity" with the Calgary Flames.

Facing one of the biggest and most physical defenses in Hockey last Wednesday, Neal was banged around as he tried to get in on the forecheck and tried to get to the front of the net. After the game, his groin felt the brunt of that physicality.

"That's just part of what he's going to have to deal with," Stars coach Marc Crawford said.

And Neal said he knows it.

Only 22, Neal is a big (6-2, 210 pounds) winger who looks for contact himself, so he just naturally invites the ire of opposing defensemen. Mix in the fact he has a team-leading nine goals through 15 games and plays on the Stars' most successful line with Brad Richards and Loui Eriksson, and the opposition is pretty interested in ways to stop him.

"It's something you have to be ready for," Neal said "I went through it in junior, and I never thought about it at this level, but yeah, when we played Nashville, you would see [Shea] Weber every shift, and when we played Calgary, it was [Jay] Bouwmeester or [Dion] Phaneuf every shift.

"You're out there playing against big, tough guys, and it's a challenge every night, and you have to be ready for it. I think if you're confident in what you're doing, you'll be fine."

Neal is confident, but does he have to adjust his game to survive the physical abuse? Some targeted players have worn down over time. Some find a way to deftly avoid hits. Others move out of the danger zone and become less effective.

"I think he can give it pretty well, and he's used to that type of game, so I don't see him changing," Richards said. "If he wants to play a different type of game and not go to the net, then he probably wouldn't have his nine goals. Unfortunately for your body sometimes, that's just the way it goes."

That said, Neal will get smarter and more experienced. It's a process that has been followed by players throughout NHL history.

"I think that's a compliment to him," Crawford said of the defending pressure. "People start to understand what you do well and they prepare for you better. Then when you start to have success, you start to match up with the better people. So there's always another step for every player.

"That next step is consistency of performance. That's something I think James is becoming more and more positive with. And as he does that, I think you're going to see him have success against even the better defensemen in the league."

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