Paul Stastny (three goals), Andrew Brunette (three assists) and Jaroslav Hlinka (two assists) did most of the damage for the Avalanche, who built a 4-1 lead and survived a couple of late Dallas power play goals to win the game 4-3.

The Stars power play hit on two of three chances on the night and the penalty kill was a perfect 2-2, but other than that it was a sloppy opening night for the Stars.

Goalie Marty Turco was up and down. He made some great saves, but there were a couple of goals he might like to have back. Stars' coach Dave Tippett wasn't overly happy with his netminding on this night.

"We're going to need better goaltending than that,'' Tippett said. "We have to if our team is to succeed.''

But it wasn't just the goaltending. Stars center Jeff Halpern said the Stars were sloppy with the puck even though Colorado was credited with 16 giveaways to just eight for Dallas.

"Too many turnovers,'' Halpern said.

The difference was that the Avs made the most of Dallas' mistakes. Colorado's second goal came as the result of a turnover and the end result was Brunette setting up Stastny in front of the net.

The third goal was a turnover combined with a bad line change and the end result was Hlinka finding a wide open Stastny right at Turco's door step.

The Stars got a strong push late in the game, getting power play scores from Jussi Jokinen and Niklas Hagman but that was too little, too late.

"You have to have the urgency before that,'' Tippett said. "To win in this league you have to commit to winning one-on-one battles and creating space for yourself by skating. We didn't have enough players doing that.''

It was a rough night for Stars defenseman Sergei Zubov, who was on the ice for all four of Colorado's goals. He ended up a minus-four on the night. His partner for most of the night, Trevor Daley, end up a minus-three.

There were positives. The power play was one. The Stars were dominant in the faceoff circle, winning 31 of 51 draws on the night. The Stars did outshot Colorado 34-23 and put some good pressure on Budaj at times.

But the bottom line is they didn't have enough elements of their game clicking over a long enough portion of the game to get two points out of this game.

• Stars captain Brenden Morrow left the game late in the first period after losing his footing while chasing the puck and then having Colorado defenseman Brett Clark's leg hit him in the had. Morrow returned in the second period wearing a protective shield.
   
• The Stars had a ten game unbeaten streak (7-0-3) in season openers snapped.
   
• Niklas Hagman played in his 400th game and picked up a goal and an assist.