Toby Petersen sat between Mark Fistric, Matt Niskanen and Loui Eriksson after Wednesday's morning skate and chatted with the three Stars rookies as if he had known them for years.

That's because he has. Yes, the 29-year-old Petersen played his first game in a Stars uniform Wednesday night after his call-up from minor league Iowa, but his history with the organization goes much deeper. Petersen was the captain of the Iowa Stars and helped lead this year's group of rookies through the playoffs last season.

"It's a good relationship," he said. "They lean on me, and I lean on them. We've been through a lot."

The call-up of Petersen for the remainder of the season is an interesting one. The talented center can help fill in if Mike Ribeiro (a sore elbow sidelined him for two days of practice, but he played Wednesday) or Brad Richards (battling flu but played Wednesday) might not be able to play.

But perhaps more importantly, the addition of the veteran center also gives Dallas some built-in leadership for a group of five key players – Nicklas Grossman and Joel Lundqvist also were with Iowa during the playoffs last season – who are pretty new to the NHL's postseason.

"He's been an important leader for them and he's their best player down there," Stars coach Dave Tippett said. "He can add a lot here."

Petersen said he understands he's with the Stars for purposes of depth. He said he was playing that same role with the Edmonton Oilers when he ended up in the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006.

"You never know with this game," said Petersen, a veteran of 156 NHL games. "You get yourself prepared and then you take advantage when your opportunity comes up."

Boucher leaves game: Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher left the game in the first period after he was ridden into the boards by Phoenix's Craig Weller. The early indication is that he is week-to-week.

The injury report listed it as a "sore shoulder," and Boucher did not return. He is scheduled to have X-rays on it today.

Boucher returned recently after missing 38 games because of surgery on his left shoulder. He hurt his right shoulder Wednesday.

Briefly: Niskanen returned to the lineup after missing three games with a bruised foot. ... Grossman was a healthy scratch on defense to make room for Niskanen. It was Grossman's first healthy scratch since being called up from the minors on Nov. 8. ... C Lundqvist and RW Krys Barch were the other healthy scratches for Dallas.