But if there was any doubt to Klingberg's focus on winning right now, it was dispelled on Thursday in Montreal. With the Stars needing someone to help shake them from a three-game losing streak and the pressure of a tight playoff race, Klingberg stepped up with two goals and an assist in a 4-3 overtime victory.
It was sort of a statement game for Klingberg, as he not only was the driving force in the victory with more than 28:40 of time on ice, but he also became the franchise leader in game-winning goals for defensemen at 21. And whenever you pass Hall-of-Famer Sergei Zubov in a career stat, you probably deserve some high praise.
"He was amazing," Stars forward Radek Faksa said. "He basically decided the game for us."
Klingberg's been at the heart of what the Stars do since he came to the team in 2014. The fifth-round draft pick from 2010 took his time in development, but once he arrived, he became one of the team's minutes leaders and most important puck possession players. That's one reason he's been able to roll up 361 points in 530 games.
The 29-year-old from Gothenburg, Sweden has received some help in recent years from first-round pick Miro Heiskanen, but with Heiskanen out because of mononucleosis, the focus has come on Klingberg again - and he's fine with that.
"I try to play the same way every night," he said. "With a player out of that caliber, you have to step up a little bit more. That's from the whole D corps. I think we've done a good job most of the time. There were some hiccups Thursdayis a Senior Staff Writer for DallasStars.com and has covered the Stars since 1994. Follow him on Twitter @MikeHeika*.
