"You go 0-for-3 at home, that's rock-bottom for us,'' Stars captain Brenden Morrow said. "This is some of the worst hockey I've seen from this team in a very long time. The panic button hasn't been hit, but the time is now to nip this and move forward.''

The Stars took a big step back on this homestand, which ended with a 5-0 loss to Phoenix on Friday night. In the first two games the Stars blew leads in the third period. They were out of this one by the third one, plagued by defensive breakdowns and spotty goaltending.

"We need some saves. We need some saves," said Stars coach Dave Tippett. "Our coverage in front has to be much stronger, without a doubt."

The Stars gave up 14 goals in the three-game homestand. Friday was the second straight game the Stars made a goaltending change. For the second straight game it really didn't help.

This was a night where little went right for the Stars, but they probably didn't play as poorly as the final score indicates. They didn't give up a lot of chances, but some spotty coverage and/or goaltending resulted in pucks ending up in the net.

They created a lot of chances at the other end, but some good goaltending by Phoenix's Mikael Tellqvist, the commitment of the Coyotes to block shots and the Stars' inability to finish added up to zero production. In the end that all added up to an ugly 5-0 score.

But the score isn't the issue. The losses are and they are starting to pile up for the Stars. They continue to find ways to lose. On this night they got behind early and never got into the game on the scoreboard.

A couple of key plays set the tone early. Daniel Carcillo won a race for the puck to negate an icing, setting the stage for a Niko Kapanen goal. A turnover helped set up the second goal, scored off a rebound by Carcillo.

"Our coverage on the first two goals was poor," said Tippett. "Very poor."

The Stars did have a very strong second period and were establish some momentum on an early power player, where they had several good chances, but that was quickly taken away when Coyotes captain Shane Doan hopped out the penalty box, took a pass from Derek Morris and slid a puck under Marty Turco on a breakaway to make it a 3-0 game. That was a momentum killer and a key turning point in the game. If the Stars cash in on that power play maybe it is a different game. But they didn't and that is the way it is going for this team right now.

Heading into the third a 3-0 lead is still not insurmountable, but a Martin Hanzal goal from the left circle off the rush just 34 seconds in was basically the final nail in the coffin for the Stars, who have lost three straight and four of five games.

"We just have to do everything better, from effort to competing to focus. We're getting what we deserve right now," said Stars defenseman Philippe Boucher.

Said Tippett, "I think we have guys that are in the mode of over trying and guys that need to try harder."

The Stars will have two days to regroup before they hit the ice again to kick off a four-game road trip that will take them through all four teams in the Pacific Division. Despite the 5-6-2 record the Stars are still in the thick of things within the division since no one has taken off. The Kings (7-7-0) and the Sharks (6-6-1) are ahead of the Stars and are only at the .500 mark after the Kings' win over the Sharks on Friday.

Still, Stars coach Dave Tippett said his bigger concern is with his group of defensemen right now.

"I think we are trying to find an identity with our group of D more than the forwards," Tippett said. "The forwards are used to getting mixed and matched, but with the D we need to find a rhythm there.

• Chris Conner made his season debut, playing on line with Mike Modano and Loui Eriksson. He played 15:01, had three shots on goal, two missed shots and one hit.
   
• Mike Ribeiro and Brenden Morrow both had their seven game points streaks come to an end.