Second-Period Surge Gives Dallas Stars 5-3 Preseason Win Over Colorado Avalanche

Whatever the Dallas Stars said in the locker room between the first and second periods of Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche should be be written in stone on the locker room wall.

Because after getting outshot 10-1 in the first period at the Pepsi Center, and that's despite having the period's only two power plays, the Stars came out like gangbusters in the second period of the preseason contest, blitzing Avalanche goalie J.S. Giguere with four goals in less than 10 minutes to take control of what would eventually be a 5-3 victory.

A pair of second-period Colton Sceviour goals bookended a set from captain Jamie Benn, who sounded like the best Dallas skater on the ice via the Avalanche radio announcers. Playing on a line with Tyler Seguin and Alex Chiasson, and penalty killing with Seguin at times as well, Benn had six shots on net plus three that missed the net and another two that were blocked in 18 minutes of ice time.

But Benn wouldn't have been able to have such an impact on the game without a big night from Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen, who had to be stellar as the Stars got off to another slow start. He eventually gave up three goals on 29 total shots but made what sounded like some above-average saves.

The Avalanche ended up outshooting the Stars 29-26.

If there was a buzzkill for the Stars once again, it was the special teams play. The Stars got five power play opportunities that included a brief 5-on-3 but were never able to generate even sustained pressure with various three and four forward sets, and they gave up a power play goal to Gabriel Landeskog late in the second.

That power play goal sparked a comeback from the Avs, who pulled Giguere after the Stars fourth goal. Backup Sami Aittokallio was tested a few times by the Stars, but Lehtonen was the much busier goalie in the third. An empty net goal from Colton Sceviour was the saving grace for Dallas, completing his hat trick by giving the Stars their insurance goal back.

(Full disclosure: The game summary has Jordie Benn, not Sceviour with the empty net goal. The Avs announcers were positive it was Sceviour though).

[Ed note: The goal has been officially changed to Sceviour. Commence your hat trick celebrations.]