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Stars fight for playoff lives in Colorado

Apr 8, 2011 - 3:28 PM (Sports Network) - Another day, another must-win game for the Dallas Stars.

One night after keeping their playoff chances alive with a victory over Colorado, the Stars need another win tonight against the Avalanche in the finale of a home-and-home series at the Pepsi Center.

Dallas picked up a 4-2 victory over Colorado on Thursday, getting a goal and assist from both Loui Eriksson and Brad Richards to pull into a tie with Calgary for ninth place in the Western Conference. The Flames, though, have already been eliminated from postseason contention due to various tiebreakers, while the Stars sit two points back of the Ducks and Blackhawks for the final two postseason spots.

All three teams have two games left and all three are in action tonight.

Tom Wandell and Brenden Morrow also scored in last night's win, which gave the Stars their first three-game winning streak since Feb. 24-March 1. They haven't won four straight since a five-game run from Jan. 9-20, but need to do so tonight thanks in part to a six-game slide (0-3-0) right before this current win streak.

"This was the first step and we got to get a good little rest here and get ready for a big one [Friday]," Morrow said.

Kari Lehtonen made 21 saves for his 33rd victory of the season, one off his career high set in 2006-07 with Atlanta. He is also one game shy of matching his personal-best of 68 games set the same season.

Dallas got a boost with the return of winger Adam Burish, who had missed the last 11 games with a lower-body injury.

The Stars are 19-17-3 on the road and end their regular season on Sunday at Minnesota.

Dallas snapped a three-game skid to Colorado last night, but has lost three straight and six of its last seven at the Pepsi Center. The Stars have been outscored 13-1 in their last three trips to Denver, getting shut out in the last two.

The Avalanche are playing out the string as they are set to finish 29th out of the 30 NHL teams, ahead of only the Oilers and their 61 points. Colorado has 66 points on the season and is a mere 4-25-2 in its last 31 games.

Brandon Yip and Mark Olver scored in last night's loss, and Brian Elliott made 33 saves as the Avs lost their third straight and for the seventh time in eight games.

"We didn't get out to the start we wanted," Yip said.

Colorado was without 11 players last night, including 39-year-old defenseman Adam Foote, who is expected to announce his retirement at season's end on Friday. The 19-year-veteran has been limited to just 46 games this season due to injury and has been out since March 16 with a leg ailment.

Foote, who won Stanley Cups with the franchise in 1996 and 2001, could return to play in Colorado's final home game against Edmonton on Sunday.

Colorado is 15-20-4 at home this season, including losses in 11 of 12.