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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) - Having lost three of four, the Dallas Stars were staring at another loss and the end of a mediocre first month of the season.

But powered by timely goals from Mike Modano and Sergei Zubov, the Stars came from behind to defeat the Phoenix Coyotes 5-3 Saturday night.

Dallas trailed 3-1 in the second period, but Modano scored in the second period and Zubov, Niko Kapanen, and Jere Lehtinen added third-period goals to lift the Stars, who closed October 6-4-1.

``There was pressure,'' Stars coach Dave Tippett said. ``We had some guys who seized the opportunity and really played well. There's a lot of positives there.''

Modano made it 3-2 when he sent a hard back-hander past Curtis Joseph on the power play at 11:26 of the second.

Zubov tied it 58 seconds into the final period and Niko Jokinen gave Dallas the lead at 10:11 after a giveaway by Phoenix's Mike Leclerc.

``I didn't think our effort was as strong,'' Coyotes coach Wayne Gretzky said. ``It wasn't just one guy, it was the whole group.''

The Coyotes took a 2-0 lead before 10 minutes had elapsed.

Shane Doan fired in a slap shot from the left circle at 3:22, and Mike Ricci extended the lead with a power-play goal at 9:41. Both goals were set up by Geoff Sanderson.

``Success comes from repeating your habits over and over and we've been doing that pretty well as a group, but tonight, for whatever reason, it just wasn't there,'' Gretzky said.

The Stars closed to 2-1 late in the first period when Stu Barnes sidestepped two Coyotes and sent a slap shot past Joseph at 19:07.

The Coyotes increased their margin to 3-1 when defenseman Fredik Sjostrom fired in a long slap shot from just inside the blue line at 2:46. Stars goalie Johan Hedberg appeared to be screened by Ricci.

``It was a weird game,'' Hedberg said. ``There were a lot of shots where I didn't have a clue where they were. But we stayed in the game and fought, and it paid off for us.''

Notes: Before the game, the Coyotes honored Joseph for his 400th career victory. Joseph is the ninth goalie in NHL history to reach the mark. ... Coyotes C Petr Nedved, playing in his 899th NHL game, injured an elbow in the first period and didn't return. Gretzky said he will be sidelined for at least a week. ... Dallas RW Bill Guerin had back spasms in the first period and left the game. ... Hedberg got the start over No. 1 goalie Marty Turco, who sported an uncharacteristic 3.64 goals-against average and a 4-4-1 record. In his past two NHL seasons, Turco entered this year with a career GAA of 1.91 in four NHL seasons.