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Dallas Stars Daily Links: Klingberg And Lindell, An Odd Couple That Works

The two defenders have turned out to be leaders on and off the ice, writes Mike Heika. Plus, Rick Bowness gives injury updates, NHL suits still don’t want the Olympics, and more.

John Klingberg and Esa Lindell both play defense. Both wear “A”s for the Dallas Stars. Both are listed as 6-3 (look it up – it’s true). After that, their profiles diverge considerably.

But as this odd couple has become the Stars’ unexpected top pair, their differences keep tending to complement each other. Stars senior staff writer Mike Heika took a closer look at how their surprising partnership has evolved, from teamwork on the ice to friendship outside the arena:

“When I came here last year, Esa was the biggest surprise for me,” said Stars interim coach Rick Bowness, who said he didn’t know much about Lindell before he got here. “He’s just so reliable defensively, he can eat up a lot of minutes, but he’s intelligent about his minutes. He can play against the best players, he’s good on the power play.

”Esa Lindell, you talk about a team MVP, he’s at the top of the list.”

Some Stars fans are old enough to remember when Klingberg was “too small” and “too skinny” to have any impact in the NHL. As it turns out, he is, too:

“I was never the best player on the team when I was young, so I had to work harder than everybody else, and I think that’s helped me a lot,” Klingberg said. “I guess I have been proving over and over since I was young that I can play. I think people see physical play and think that’s what a competitor is, but I think I can work hard and play hard and play smart, and I am competitive.

”I’m physical in my way, and I have a good stick, and I feel like that works for me.”

There’s more at Mike’s place. [Dallas Stars]

Stars Stuff

Rick Bowness has injury updates for Alexander Radulov and Justin Dowling.

Interested in a career in sports? Learn more with the Stars.

Around The League(s)

#Murder Was The Case

  • The Vancouver Canucks are clinging to the top spot in the Pacific Division after hanging a 6-2 loss on the Nashville Predators to kick off Sedin Week. [On The Forecheck]/

The Nucks’ ascendance has resurfaced the issue of player targeting, with Elias Pettersson as its new poster child.

The Minnesota Wild worked a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Jason Zucker is on the move.

When you play 1,500 NHL games, maybe you’ll get Infinity Gloves, too.

The Columbus Blue Jackets have lost top defender Seth Jones “indefinitely” to a fractured ankle that requires surgery.

Jones’ injury is part of an unfortunate pattern for the Metropolitan Division right now.

“At this point in time, we continue to believe that the negatives outweigh the positives.” The fans want it, the players want it, but the NHL is still bucking a return to the Winter Olympics.

Greetings From Scenic Cedar Park (And Beautiful Boise)

Wednesday night means a Texas Stars road game against the Milwaukee Admirals. And Milwaukee means beer, as you know.

After completing a successful home stand, the Idaho Steelheads are hitting the road, too.

Finally

It looks as if any sports team who wants to do Star Wars night will have to go through Liberty University now. Enjoy.

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