The Dallas Stars have announced that defenseman John Klingberg is out for two weeks with an upper-body injury. The news was confirmed by team beat reporter Mike Heika.
Jim Montgomery said John Klingberg will be out at least two weeks with a lower body injury. Klingberg got hit up high with a puck and fell awkwardly. Sort of same as Comeau injury in Game 1. Stars also missing Sekera, Polak and Johns on defense. Sekera is getting close to return.
— Mike Heika (@MikeHeika) November 6, 2019
John Klingberg Injured
The 27 year old Swede suffered an upper body injury in the Stars 4-1 home win against the Avalanche. The injury came at the hands of the Colorado Avalanche‘s big Russian defenseman Nikita Zadorov. The injury occurred when Zadorov let rip a monster point shot that struck Klingberg in the neck area in the second period. He managed to skate the second out but did not return for the third period. It is the same injury that sidelined Blake Comeau earlier this season. It was a rough night for the defenceman who earlier also copped a big hit from Zadorov on a zone entry on a Stars’ power play.
Klingberg, who has been a staple on the Stars back end for five seasons now has been somewhat off to a slow start this season. He has amassed just three points in 16 games, a far cry from his usual pace. Klingberg has 262 career points in 383 games.
Looking ahead
This is bad news for the Stars who already boast four injuries on the blue line and had seemingly just started getting it together as a team. After starting off horribly, the Stars have managed to win seven of the last eight games. Without Klingberg, Esa Lindell and Finnish sensation Miro Heiskanen will be forced to carry a bigger load in his absence. Klingberg lead all Dallas skaters on time on ice per game this season.
DALLAS, TX – OCTOBER 13: John Klingberg #3 of the Dallas Stars celebrates his goal in the second period against the Anaheim Ducks at American Airlines Center on October 13, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
