Dallas Stars Activate Toby Petersen From IR, Recall Trevor Ludwig

The Dallas Stars should get some much needed veteran help tonight as Toby Petersen has been recalled from his conditioning stint in the AHL and is expected to play tonight against Edmonton. Petersen has missed the last 15 games after taking a puck off his foot in practice, and the Stars are desperately missing able-bodied centers now that Brad Richards joins the list of injured Stars players.

No word on where Crawford will insert Petersen as far as the line combinations go, but just having a veteran player who knows this team able to step in and play center -- thus allowing more opportunities for Mike Ribeiro to step up in RIchards' absence -- comes none to soon as the Stars are now facing some dire circumstances while trying to hold on to a playoff spot.

In addition to Petersen, the Stars have also recalled defenseman Trevor Ludwig. It's his first call up to the NHL and while he likely won't play tonight there's a chance he'll make his NHL debut sometime on this road trip. What is a bit frustrating is that Severin Blindenbacher likely would have received this call up had he not decided to head back to Europe.

Press release after the jump.

Frisco, TX. - The Dallas Stars announced today that the NHL club has recalled forward Toby Petersen from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars, Dallas' primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL), and activated him from injured reserve after missing the last 15 games with a lower body injury. The team has also assigned forward Francis Wathier to Texas and recalled defensemen Trevor Ludwig from Texas.

Petersen, 32, has skated in 34 games this season for Dallas, collecting one goal (shorthanded) and two assists with six penalty minutes. In one game this season with Texas on a conditioning assignment, Petersen recorded one assist against Lake Erie on Feb. 14. The 5-10, 198-pound forward has played in 177 games over four seasons with Dallas, recording 32 points (14 goals, 18 assists).

Wathier, 26, has appeared in three games for Dallas this season. He has also played in 45 AHL games for Texas, recording 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists). Wathier represented Texas at the AHL All-Star Game on Jan. 31 in Hershey, Penn. The 6-3, 208-pound winger was Dallas' sixth round selection (185th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Ludwig, 25, has appeared in 50 games this season with Texas and has recorded six assists and 50 penalty minutes. The 6-1, 216-pound defensemen from Rhinelander, Wis, spent the majority of the 2009-10 season with Texas, playing 47 games and collecting eight points (3 goals, 5 assists) and 62 penalty minutes.

Dallas will play the Edmonton Oilers tonight at Rexall Place, 8:00 p.m. CT (TV: FOX Sports Southwest, Radio: Sports Radio 1310 The Ticket).