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Stars hope to extend win streak in clash with Avs

Nov 6, 2010 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars aim to win four straight games for the first time since starting the season 4-0 as they visit the Colorado Avalanche Saturday night at the Pepsi Center.

The Stars dropped the first three games of a recent homestand, but rebounded to win the final three contests by a combined 15-5 margin. Dallas notched a season-best four power-play goals in last night's 6-3 triumph over Phoenix.

Loui Eriksson scored twice on the man advantage and added a pair of assists for a career-high four points, while Brad Richards notched two goals and an assist. Eriksson now has five goals and 10 points over a five-game point streak, while Richards has four goals and four helpers over his own five- contest run.

"It's what we've done the last three games at home instead of letting other teams hang around and stay close," Richards said of the team getting out to big leads during its win streak. "When you do that, a lucky bounce here or there for the other team can get them ahead or in the game, but we've kept the pedal to the metal."

Brenden Morrow scored his 200th career goal and Jamie Benn also tallied for the Stars, who were 6-for-48 on the man advantage coming into the game. Kari Lehtonen stopped 25-of-28 shots in the victory.

Dallas plays its next three on the road and is 3-1-0 as the visiting club this season.

The Avalanche have split the first two contests of a four-game homestand and had won consecutive games before Thursday's 3-1 setback to the Canucks. Peter Budaj allowed three power-play goals on 36 total shots faced and David Van der Gulik spoiled Vancouver's bid for a shutout with his first NHL goal with 3:08 left in regulation.

"It's obviously a huge milestone for my career. It was pretty special in the moment, pretty emotional," said Van der Gulik after his ninth career game and third with the Avs this season. "We needed this win so it's bittersweet. We have to regroup and come out with a big game against Dallas. We obviously didn't come ready to play but we'll be ready next game."

Forward Chris Stewart had an eight-game point streak end in the loss. He had totaled eight goals and six assists over the run for Colorado, which is 2-3-1 in its last six games overall.

With Craig Anderson out due to a knee injury, Budaj should get the start again tonight and is 4-2-4 with a 2.54 goals-against average lifetime when facing the Stars.

Blueliner Adam Foote missed his fifth straight game on Thursday with a concussion and is likely out again tonight, while defensemen Kyle Cumiskey (concussion) and Ryan Wilson (leg) are both questionable.

The Avalanche won three of four over the Stars last year and have taken five the last eight meetings. Colorado has won two straight and five of its last six at the Pepsi Center in this series.