Texas Stars receive emergency reinforcements Alexander Petrovic and Ben Kraws from Dallas amid Western Conference Final collapse

Time of India

2 days ago

The Texas Stars are hanging by a thread in the Western Conference Finals, trailing 2-0 against the surging Abbotsford Canucks. In a last-ditch move, the Dallas Stars have sent down defenseman Alexander Petrovic and goaltender Ben Kraws.
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But with the series already slipping away, it's a move that feels more like a hopeful lifeline than a guaranteed turning point.
Dallas Stars deliver reinforcements as Texas faces brink of elimination
Just days after being eliminated from the NHL postseason, the Dallas Stars have returned two key players, Alexander Petrovic and Ben Kraws, to the Texas Stars in a move that feels more like triage than tactics.
Petrovic, a 33-year-old blueliner, logged 25 points across 55 games with Texas this season.
He also stepped up admirably in Dallas, appearing in five regular-season games and suiting up for 17 playoff contests as an injury replacement. His return brings veteran poise to a Texas defense that's struggled to contain Abbotsford's speed and precision.
Then there's Ben Kraws, the lesser-known but potentially pivotal piece. The 24-year-old goaltender only appeared in three games for Texas this season, spending the bulk of his time with the ECHL's Idaho Steelheads, where he recorded a solid 23-12-5 record, a 2.88 goals-against average, and five shutouts.
He's been riding shotgun as Dallas' third-string goalie during their postseason journey, but suddenly, he may be thrust into the fire in the AHL's highest-stakes series.
This move from Dallas feels more like a reaction to trouble than a planned boost. The Texas Stars have struggled to keep pace with Abbotsford, and being down 2-0 in the series shows just how tough it's been. Bringing in reinforcements now, no matter how experienced might be asking too much, too late.
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It also raises the question of whether the Dallas Stars left Texas short-handed while chasing their own playoff goals. Now that their NHL run is over, sending players down feels more like an afterthought than a well-timed, impactful move.
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With their backs against the wall, Texas needs more than just fresh legs. Petrovic and Kraws bring some hope, but hope alone won't be enough. If the Stars want to keep their Calder Cup dream alive, it's going to take grit, focus, and maybe a little bit of playoff magic.