Stars place D Zubov on IR

Feb 7, 2008 - 4:45 PM ST. PAUL, Minnesota (Ticker) -- The Dallas Stars on Thursday placed defenseman Sergei Zubov on injured reserve with a groin injury.

The move is retroactive to January 17.

Already nursing hand and foot ailments prior to suffering the groin strain, Zubov has missed Dallas' last seven games and was unable to play in the NHL All-Star Game for the Western Conference last month.

Zubov, 37, has four goals and 35 points in 46 games this season, leading Dallas in assists and average ice time (25:41).

The only defensemen to record 30-plus assists for 12 straight seasons, Zubov is just five points away from becoming the only NHL blue-liner with 12 straight campaigns of 40-plus points.

In 1,058 games over his career with the New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and the Stars, the Russian has tallied 152 goals, 767 points and been a part of two Stanley Cup champions.

In a corresponding move, the Stars recalled goaltender Tobias Stephan from Iowa of the American Hockey League.

Stephan, 24, made his NHL debut on October 13 at Chicago and stopped 38 shots in a 2-1 overtime loss. He has not played with the parent club since.