Blue Jackets forward Jared Boll has fought many of the NHL's top enforcers, having run a gauntlet of goons including George Parros, Donald Brashear and Boll's own bare-knuckled mentor, Jody Shelley.

But no potential confrontation, whether he drops the gloves or not, has troubled Boll more than the one that could take place tonight in Dallas.

The opponent, James Neal, is the Stars' leading goal scorer, a player with as many NHL fighting majors as Jackets skilled center Derick Brassard. In fact, his only fight came against Brassard a year ago and carried season-ending consequences.

Neal has become a Jackets nemesis, a status he cemented with a Nov. 19 hit from behind on winger Derek Dorsett, who missed nine games because of a concussion.

"I guarantee there are a lot of guys in our (locker) room, whether they say it or not, who are tired of James Neal," Dorsett said.

One exception is Boll. Some Jackets call Neal a dirty player. Boll calls Neal his best friend.

Boll, 23, who rooms with Dorsett on the road and considers him one of his closest buddies on the team, finds himself in an awkward spot. Adding to the intrigue is the fact Dorsett cannot avenge the Neal hit tonight. He's out of the lineup again because of a broken hand.

"My role on the team here is to stick up for my teammates and have their backs," said Boll, whose 62 fighting majors are the league's most since the start of the 2007-08 season. "When you see it's your best buddy hitting a good buddy on the team, it's tough.

"But it's a job and he knows that and I know that. When we're on the ice I hear from the coach, I hear from everyone, that there are no friends."

If this were any other player, given similar circumstances, Boll probably would not think twice about challenging Neal or at least taking a run at him.

Boll and Neal have been friends since their days together with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League. Even the families have grown close.

Each summer, Boll spends time working out with Neal, 22, and staying in his Toronto-area home. In August, Boll brought along a guest -- it was Dorsett.

"Yep, I stayed in James Neal's house for about four days after he had left for Dallas," Dorsett said.

Neal has developed into a major talent, following up a 24-goal rookie season with 16 goals and 14 assists through 32 games. It's his physical and edgy play that has placed Neal at odds with the Jackets, however.

On Dec. 18, 2008, he leveled defenseman Fedor Tyutin, prompting Brassard to initiate a fight. Brassard was a leading contender for rookie of the year as he dropped the gloves. By the time the scrap ended, Brassard had suffered a dislocated right shoulder and required season-ending surgery.

It bothers Dorsett that Neal's only NHL fight inflicted so much damage.

"There's nothing worse than a guy who runs around, throwing cheap hits and sucker punching players and he won't fight," Dorsett said. "He's been playing this way since he was in juniors."

On Nov. 19, Dorsett was fighting for a loose puck along the boards with his back turned to an oncoming Neal. The impact drove Dorsett's face into the glass and he landed on all fours, spinning around before falling backward, his eyes rolling back in his head.

Neal's hit drew a five-minute boarding call, a game misconduct and a two-game suspension. At the time, Neal told the Dallas Morning News: "I didn't have any intent to injure him, and I hope he's OK."

The Stars did not make Neal available for a phone interview with The Dispatch this week. Neal does plenty of talking with Boll, though. They exchange texts most days and after almost every game, including the one in November.

"He asked how Dorse was doing and I said, 'pretty bad' and that was pretty much it," Boll said. "We kind of stayed away from it."

Coincidence or not, the Jackets have won twice in 17 games since Boll's best friend blindsided Dorsett.

"Friends are friends and teammates are teammates and during the season you have no friends other than your teammates," Jackets coach Ken Hitchcock said.

After the Jackets traded Shelley to San Jose on Jan. 29, 2008, Boll knew there would come a day he would have to fight the man who taught him so much about their craft.

It happened on Feb. 7, 2009 in Nationwide Arena.

"On the ice it's a switch, you just turn it on and when the game is over you turn it off," Boll said. "When Jody and I fought it's like we never knew each other."

Shelley acknowledges Boll is in a tough position regarding Neal, but adds that standing up for teammates is paramount.

"If someone runs (Jackets goaltender) Steve Mason tonight and it happens to be your brother, you don't say, 'Hey, it's my brother,' and let the next guy take care of it," Shelley said. "That shouldn't matter. You grab him and pump him."

Neither Hitchcock nor Dorsett says Boll is under any obligation to challenge Neal. "Boller stands up for us all the time," Dorsett said. "I can fight my own battles."

The topic makes Boll uncomfortable, but he answered every question, being careful not to promise anything.

"I don't want it to be premeditated where everyone is expecting it," Boll said. "If it happens, it happens, but I'm not going to go looking for it. Once the puck drops, then we will decide."

treed@dispatch.com