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James Neal is finally an All-Star

Buffalo Sabres v Pittsburgh Penguins

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 17: James Neal #18 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his second period power play goal against the Buffalo Sabres during the game at Consol Energy Center on December 17, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

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Thanks to Alex Ovechkin deciding to sit things out, James Neal can finally say he’s going to the All-Star Game.

Neal was named as the replacement for Ovechkin to head to Ottawa to be part of the All-Star festivities in Canada’s capital and he heads there as a more than deserving candidate.

Neal has 27 goals at the break, tying his career-high total. His goal total is best on the Penguins, even beating out potential MVP front-runner and fellow All-Star Evgeni Malkin. Malkin does have the edge in points, however. For Neal, missing out on being named in the first place was a bit of a surprise, but with Ovechkin opting to not go because of his three-game suspension, Neal gets the very deserving call to play.

Neal joins up with Malkin and Kris Letang as All-Star Penguins in Ottawa and is the fourth player named as a replacement for the game. Letang replaced Winnipeg’s Dustin Byfuglien, Edmonton’s Jordan Eberle replaced Minnesota captain Mikko Koivu, and Philly’s Scott Hartnell is taking the place of Chicago captain Jonathan Toews.