GAME THREAD: NHL: COLORADO (11-6) at DALLAS (7-11)

DALLAS (Ticker) -- So much for Jussi Jokinen's struggle toscore goals.


Jokinen netted a career-high four tallies and defenseman SergeiZubov collected four assists as the Dallas Stars on Fridaycruised to a 6-1 triumph over the Colorado Avalanche.

Jeff Halpern and Mike Ribeiro also scored and Mike Modanorecorded a pair of assists for Dallas, which halted a three-gamelosing streak.


"We couldn't get closer to 60 minutes than that," Modano said ofthe Stars' effort. "It was a great start. A lot of goodthings happened for us to get the lead, and we controlled thepace throughout."


"I thought we had a great game by our whole team," Halpernadded. "It was nice that we played a good 60 minutes. We keptpucks in and it made us look a little faster because we wereskating in their end a lot."


Entering with just three goals in 17 games this season, Jokinenmatched that total in the second period alone. But the Finnbegan his career night early in the opening session, when hebeat goaltender Jose Theodore to the glove side with a wristshot from the left faceoff circle during a power play at 4:22.

"It's been a frustrating couple of months for me," Jokinen said."It was my first goal on home ice. It's nice to hear thatsound again and get a little confidence."


Jokinen, who began Friday with two career two-goal performances,gave the Stars a 2-0 advantage at 3:47 of the middle period.From a bad angle, the 24-year-old put a wrister past Theodorefrom the bottom of the left circle for his fifth of the season.

Halpern scored on a deflection less than two minutes later tostretch Dallas' lead to three before Jokinen continued hisassault.


During another man advantage, Zubov skated to the top of theright circle before spotting Jokinen, who received a pass at theleft side of the net for an easy redirection seven minutes intothe period, completing his first career hat trick.

"I had a hat trick my last season in Finland, but I'm of courseso happy," he said. "And it's a special feeling to do this inthe NHL for the first time."


"The puck had eyes tonight," Modano said. "It was due. Greatto get a little jump for him."


But Jokinen did not stop there, as he beat Theodore with a shotfrom the top of the slot at 10:52 for a 5-0 cushion. It was thefirst four-goal game by a Star since March 21, 2001, whencurrent co-general manager Brett Hull accomplished the featagainst Anaheim.


"The last time I scored four goals was like seven years ago,"Jokinen said.


"He had (three) goals in 6 1/2 minutes," Dallas coach DaveTippett said. "I was mad for not getting him on the ice more."

The franchise record for most tallies in a game is five, set byTim Young on January 15, 1979 against the New York Rangers whenthe organization was known as the Minnesota North Stars.

Zubov set up all four of Jokinen's goals, matching his careerhigh for assists in a contest.


"Zubie has been great for a long time, and he gave me some greatpasses tonight," Jokinen said.


"He was excellent," Tippett added. "He did the right thingswith the puck. Not a spectacular four assists, but he makesplays look so easy."


Mike Smith made 17 saves but had his shutout bid end whenJaroslav Hlinka tallied with 3:45 remaining in the third period.

"Smith was solid. He covers a lot of ground, that's what wewere looking for tonight," Tippett said.


Theodore was pulled after allowing five goals on 15 shots. PeterBudaj came on and made 10 saves, allowing only Ribeiro's tallywith five minutes remaining in the final session.


"We've got to play in front of (Theodore)," Avalanche captainJoe Sakic said. "We've got to play smarter, harder and executethe game plan."


"There are some bad games and some awful games, and this may beworse than both of those words," Colorado coach Joel Quennevillesaid. "Every area, we were poor. We made a couple criticalmistakes on their goals. We got dominated in every aspect ofthe game."