DALLAS — Playing for a team that’s used to relying on veterans, Loui Eriksson has gone mostly unrecognized in his third season with the Dallas Stars.

But the struggling Stars are short-handed these days and turning to a much younger lineup, so Eriksson is starting to garner some attention from some of his more established teammates.

Eriksson scored two goals, including the game-winner with 1:21 left in overtime, to help Dallas beat the Phoenix Coyotes 2-1 on Tuesday night.

“I’ve been a huge fan of Loui’s since he got here,” Stars goalie Marty Turco said. “We’re the ones getting rewarded for his work. He likes to score goals, I’ll tell you that.”

In overtime, Mike Ribeiro held the puck behind the net before passing to an open Eriksson, who put a rebound of his own shot past Ilja Bryzgalov.

Eriksson has 14 goals, equaling his career high set last season.

“Both my goals were in front of the net,” said Eriksson, the team’s leading goal scorer. “That’s where you have to score goals. You have to get out there and someone will make a play for you.”

The Stars played their first game since cutting ties with Sean Avery on Sunday. The forward was eligible to return Tuesday from a six-game suspension after making a crude comment about ex-girlfriends dating other hockey players, but the team instead decided to part ways with Avery.

The last-place Stars also are missing six key players because of injuries.

“Loui takes that responsibility with the guys we have out,” Stars coach Dave Tippett said. “Both goals were hard around the net. Those turned out to be very valuable.”

Also on Tuesday:

Capitals 5

Islanders 4

UNIONDALE, N.Y. — Alex Ovechkin scored his second goal of the game with 10.7 seconds left in overtime and surging Washington sent the Islanders to their seventh straight loss. The Islanders managed to salvage a point thanks to third-period goals by Andy Sutton and Jon Sim that wiped out a 4-2 deficit.

Flyers 5

Avalanche 2

PHILADELPHIA — Mike Richards and Simon Gagne each had a goal and two assists, and Philadelphia won its fifth straight game by beating Colorado. Mike Knuble added a goal and an assist, and Jeff Carter and Joffrey Lupul also scored for the Flyers, unbeaten in regulation in their last 10 home games (8-0-2).

Hurricanes 3

Canadiens 2

RALEIGH, N.C. — Eric Staal scored two power-play goals and Carolina took advantage of the penalty-prone Montreal Canadiens. Joe Corvo added another power-play goal and Sergei Samsonov had two assists for the Hurricanes, who snapped a two-game skid.

Maple Leafs 3

Devils 2

TORONTO — Vesa Toskala stopped Travis Zajac on a breakaway in the final seconds of overtime and Jason Blake had the winning goal in a shootout to lead Toronto over New Jersey. Nik Antropov and Jeremy Williams scored in regulation for the Maple Leafs, who have won three straight for the first time this season.

Thrashers 4

Senators 1

OTTAWA — Colby Armstrong scored a pair of goals 31 seconds apart in the third period and Atlanta ended a three-game losing streak with a win over Ottawa. Ondrej Pavelec stopped 28 shots, losing a bid for his first career shutout on Chris Kelly’s goal with 1:18 remaining.

Flames 6

Blues 3

ST. LOUIS — Jarome Iginla had two goals and two assists to match his career best for points and goalie Miikka Kiprusoff beat St. Louis for the 11th straight time.

Rangers 3

Ducks 1

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Nigel Dawes stole a pass, deked defender Chris Pronger and beat Jonas Hiller between the pads for a tiebreaking goal with 3:16 remaining for New York.

Blackhawks 9

Oilers 2

EDMONTON, Alberta — Troy Brouwer had two goals and an assist, and Chicago beat Edmonton for its fifth straight win. Patrick Kane and Andrew Ladd each added a goal and two assists for the Blackhawks, 6-0-1 in their last seven games.