Scoring just nine seconds into Game 5 at American Airlines Center, the Stars showed up from the start and took down the Colorado Avalanche 6-2 on Monday to take a 3-2 series lead. The Stars will have the chance to end the series Thursday night in Game 6 at Colorado.

The Dallas Stars needed to win on Monday night. Despite the fact that the series was tied after four games, Dallas would have home ice advantage two more times before the series would be over. What the Stars also needed was for their offense to wake up and produce.

The Colorado Avalanche and the Dallas Stars meet in Game 5 of a Western Conference first-round, best-of-7 series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Monday.