Stars shine in victory over Avalanche

DENVER (AP) -- Andrew Raycroft stopped 35 shots for his first win in nearly a year, and the Dallas Stars beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-1 on Monday night. Raycroft (1-5) hadn't won since beating Minnesota on Jan. 9. He made his first start since taking over for Kari Lehtonen, who was placed on the injured list on Sunday after he hurt his right knee against Phoenix. Michael Ryder scored two goals, and Eric Nystrom added his eighth of the season for the Stars. Kevin Porter spoiled Raycroft's shutout bid with his first this season, but Colorado fell to 4-9 at home. The Avalanche entered with the NHL's second-best power play, but went 0 for 3. Semyon Varlamov made 32 saves. The Avalanche had a 11-8 shot advantage in the first period, but Dallas led 1-0 at the intermission on Nystrom's rebound goal. Vernon Fiddler sent a slap shot from the slot after an Avalanche turnover. Varlamov made a stick save, but Nystrom crashed the net for the loose puck and easily scored at 15:56. Daniel Winnik nearly scored the first short-handed goal against Dallas this season. Winnik broke in on Raycroft, but was slashed by defenseman Sheldon Souray before he was got off a shot at 3:49. Raycroft was tested in the second period. He survived a flurry midway through when Paul Stastny missed an open net. Moments later he stopped a shot from in close by Ryan O'Reilly, who swiped at the puck from his knees. Ryder beat Varlamov glove side at 14:36 of the third period. Porter scored at 16:24, but Ryder sealed it with an empty-net goal with 27.7 seconds left. NOTES: Raycroft played for the Avalanche in the 2008-09 season... Dallas' top prospect Jamie Oleksiak was selected to Canada's National Junior team... The Stars played the second of a seven of nine stretch on the road... Dallas' power play is 0 for 20 in the past eight games... The Avalanche haven't won consecutive home games this season.