DENVER (AP) _ Milan Hejduk and Ville Nieminen scored third- period goals as the Colorado Avalanche opened the exhibition season with a 5-3 victory over the Dallas Stars on Thursday night.

Hejduk made it 4-3 with a short-handed goal, converting a pass from Joe Sakic at 2:36 of the final period. Nieminen beat goalie Rick Tabaracci off a rebound at 8:33.

Martin Skoula, Joel Prpic and Jared Aulin added goals for the Avalanche, who were eliminated by Dallas in the Western Conference finals last season. David Aebischer made 15 saves.

Jonathan Sim, Blake Sloan and Tyler Bouck scored for the Stars, who were 1-for-11 on the power play.