Pittsburgh Acquire James Neal from Dallas

The Dallas Stars have traded forward James Neal and defenceman Matt Niskanen to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenceman Alex Goligoski.

Neal has 21 goals and 39 points in 59 games for the Stars this season. He was the third leading goal scorer on the Stars this year, trailing only Brenden Morrow and Brad Richards.

Niskanen has played in 45 games for Dallas this season, with no goals and six assists. He has a minus-1 rating.

The Penguins needed some offence since suffering a rash of injuries that include forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.

Goligoski has nine goals and 31 points in 60 games with the Penguins this season.

This is now the sixth trade that has occurred since Feb. 18 that has involved one or more defencemen. There's just one deal - a swap of goaltenders Brian Elliott and Craig Anderson between the Senators and Avalanche - that has not involved a blueliner over that time.

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