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(Sports Network) - The Dallas Stars will play the third contest of a five-game homestand this afternoon when they welcome the Colorado Avalanche to American Airlines Center.

The Stars kicked off the stand with a win on Tuesday against Minnesota and then recorded a victory on Saturday against Anaheim. Rookie Mike Smith stopped 32 shots to post his third shutout of the season and lead Dallas to a 1-0 victory over the Ducks.

Smith had just signed a two-year contract extension on Wednesday.

Jussi Jokinen scored the lone goal for the Stars, who have won four of their last five games. Dallas, which will also host Detroit and San Jose, improved to 17-8-1 at home this season. The club trails the Sharks by three points for second place in the Pacific Division and is sixth overall in the West.

Dallas will be going for the season sweep of Colorado. They have won the first three matchups against the Avs this season, winning the last two by identical 5-4 scores, and have been victorious in the last six meetings overall.

Colorado hasn't bested Dallas since a 3-2 road win in October of 2005. The Avalanche have also lost two straight and six of their last eight in Dallas and will hope to avoid being swept in the season series for the first time since moving to Denver in 1995-96.

The Avalanche come into the tilt having lost three of their last four games. On Thursday, Marian Hossa and Slava Kozlov each had two goals and two assists to help the Atlanta Thrashers to a 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Paul Stastny had a goal and an assist for the Avs, who are 11-11-1 on the road this season and last in the Northwest Division.

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