Eurolanche

Avalanche's 'O' Struggles in 'Big D'

Jamie McGinn scored a third-period goal for the Avalanche on Thursday, but that's all the offense Colorado could muster in a 5-1 loss at American Airlines Center.

Alex Chiasson scored two goals, and Kari Lehtonen made 25 saves for the Stars (4-0-2), who knocked off Colorado (2-3-0) for the second time this week after winning 4-3 Tuesday in Denver.

McGinn's score came on a power play at 8:40 in the third period, with Erik Johnson and newcomer Marc-Andre Cliche getting the assists.

Colorado was outshot 8-1 in the first period, but used a 25-16 advantage the rest of the way to outshoot Dallas 26-24 overall.

The Avalanche will now board a plane and head to Las Vegas, where the club will finish its 2013 preseason against Los Angeles on Saturday night in Frozen Fury XV.

The game will be a rematch from earlier in the preseason when Colorado knocked off the Kings 4-3 in overtime, and it will give the Avs and new coach Patrick Roy a final tuneup before starting their regular season Wednesday, Oct. 2, against Anaheim at Pepsi Center.

"Right from the beginning, Patrick's been very positive, trying to teach everybody his system and his way of things," Colorado defenseman Nick Holden said. "I think it's been very good. The guys have been very receptive to it, and I think as time goes on here guys are going to get more comfortable with his system and things are only going to get better."

Chiasson opened the scoring 55 seconds into the game, pushing a wrist shot past Colorado's Semyon Varlamov, who took the loss after playing the full 60 minutes and making 19 saves

Chiasson's third goal of the preseason, at 6:30 of the third period, came on a power play, and Erik Cole, Alex Goligoski and Valeri Nichushkin also scored for the Stars.

-- by Assosiated Press --