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Anderson, Avalanche win 6th straight

Jan 25, 2010 - 4:45 AM DENVER(AP) -- Craig Anderson refused to get caught up in his recent sensational play.

The Colorado goalie made 27 saves for his second shutout in three starts and fifth of the season, and T.J. Galiardi had a short-handed goal to help the Avalanche win their sixth straight, 4-0 over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night.

"It's something that at the end of the year, I can look back and say, 'Yeah that was a good stretch,"' said Anderson, who has started and won all six games in the Avalanche's season-high winning streak.

"But for me, it's just about staying focused and worrying about the next game and getting ready for that. Because you're only as good as your next game."

That approach has served him especially well in a run that included allowing only two goals in the last four games. He has 12 career shutouts.

"I think the biggest thing is he instills confidence for us," said Galiardi, who had his first career short-handed goal and Colorado's fifth this season. "We know he's going to step up and make the big saves. The whole season, he's been unbelievable for us. We know we can take risks every now and then because he's back there, a brick wall."

Paul Stastny and Chris Stewart each had a goal and an assist, and Brett Clark also had a goal for Colorado (30-15-6), which moved two points ahead of idle Vancouver atop the Northwest Division.

The Avalanche reached 30 wins in 51 games, the fewest number of games to hit that milestone since the 2000-01 Stanley Cup championship season when they did it in 47 games.

Dallas, playing its third game away from home in four days, dropped to 1-9-2 in its last 12 road games.

"We were a tired hockey club and we needed to keep it close and we didn't keep it close tonight," Dallas coach Marc Crawford said. "We gave up a power-play goal on their first shot of the power play and then we gave up the breakaway for the short-handed goal. When you do that, it's tough sledding coming back."

Marty Turco made 32 saves for Dallas, 0 for 4 on the power play

The Avalanche led 2-0 after one period on goals by Clark and Galiardi. Clark beat Turco stick side 10 seconds after Nicklas Grossman was sent off for interference.

Galiardi added a short-handed goal at 8:30 of the period, stealing the puck in the Colorado end and skating in alone on Turco. Galiardi had his first shot stopped, but regained the puck and sent it over Turco's shoulder while falling to the ice.

During an Avalanche power play, Turco made four saves early in the second period to keep it a two-goal game.

Colorado broke through when Stewart finished a 3-on-2 break at 8:30 with his 17th goal of the season. Stewart sent a wrist shot in from the right circle after taking a pass from Stastny.

Stastny tipped in a power-play goal at 12:30 of the third period.

NOTES: Dallas captain F Brenden Morrow (oblique muscle) missed his third straight game. ... Stastny has a six-game points streak. ... The Avalanche have 10 fighting majors in the past five games.