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DENVER (AP) - Mike Ribeiro scored on the third and final shootout attempt to lift the Dallas Stars to a 3-2 victory over the Colorado Avalanche on Thursday night.
After Matt Climie stopped T.J. Hensick's try, Ribeiro glided toward Peter Budaj, suddenly turned backward, passed the puck to himself between his legs and then shot it at Budaj, the puck bouncing high into the air before trickling in.
Fabian Brunnstrom and James Neal also scored in the shootout for the Stars, while Wojtek Wolski and Milan Hejduk countered for Colorado. Wolski's tally was his 10th shootout goal of the year, tying the single-season NHL record set by Dallas' Jussi Jokinen in 2005-06.
Brunnstrom and Steve Begin scored in regulation for Dallas and Chris Stewart and John-Michael Liles had the goals for Colorado.
With one hand on his stick, Begin poked a shot past Budaj to give the Stars a 2-1 lead late in the final period. However, Liles scored 52 seconds later, banking in a shot off the pads of Matt Climie.
The Stars trailed 1-0 heading into the final period, but Brunnstrom scored a power-play goal when he slid a shot past Budaj on a pinpoint pass from Loui Eriksson.
Stewart's 11th goal of the season came midway through the second period as he tipped Raymond Macias' slap shot from the blue line.
The Avalanche had a number of scoring chances in the second period. Cody McCormick had the best opportunity, but fanned on a point-blank shot with Climie behind the net having just coughed up the puck.
Per Ledin made his NHL debut, the 11th player to do so this season for the injury-riddled Avalanche. The New York Islanders are the only team to have had more players (12) kick off their careers in 2008-09.
Marek Svatos became the latest member of Colorado's ever-expanding ailment list, sitting out with a finger injury. The forward was one of 11 players missing from the lineup.
However, Avalanche defensemen Adam Foote (head injury), Brett Clark (hand) and Ruslan Salei (knee) all skated with the team Thursday morning and coach Tony Granato wouldn't rule out their return to the ice before the end of the season.
Colorado won't receive any sympathy from the Stars as far as injuries are concerned. Dallas is among the NHL leaders in man-games lost, ranking fourth heading into the game Thursday night.
Dallas was without defenseman Trevor Daley, who didn't make the trip due to a knee injury.
Notes: Colorado F Ian Laperriere played in his 999th career game Thursday night. ... Climie finished with 25 saves as he filled in for Marty Turco. ... Budaj had 37 saves.
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