GAME: Philadelphia Flyers (18-6-8-4) at Dallas Stars (17-16-4-0).

TIME: Monday, 8:30 p.m. EST.

The Dallas Stars and Philadelphia Flyers were considered top Stanley Cup contenders heading into this season.

While Dallas has finally started looking like it, Philadelphia has suddenly stopped.

The Stars shoot for a season-high fifth straight win as they try to deal the struggling Flyers their fourth consecutive loss.

Dallas has moved above .500 for the first time since early November by winning four in a row, including Saturday's 4-3 victory over Columbus.

"We've had a lot of pressure on us," said Brenden Morrow, who had a goal and an assist. "We've not met expectations. But now we're getting some effort back. We weren't getting any breaks, but now we are."

Mike Modano also had a goal and an assist Saturday, giving him six points during the win streak. He had only one point in the Stars' previous 10 games.

Dallas won Saturday despite goaltender Marty Turco giving up more than one goal for the first time in eight games.

"The type of streak he's on is tough to keep up," Modano said of Turco. "He's done more than enough to help us win some games. It's time we did something for him."

The Stars scored four goals in a game for the first time since Nov. 24 and killed three penalties, running their streak to 38 in a row.

With the league's second-best penalty-killing unit, Dallas now faces the NHL's top power-play squad.

Philadelphia, however, went scoreless in four chances with the man advantage Saturday in a 3-2 overtime loss to Colorado.

It was the sixth defeat in seven games for the Flyers, including losses in the first three of their eight-game road trip.

Philadelphia blew a third-period lead for the fourth time this month Saturday, wasting a two-man advantage late in the period. Jeff Hackett stopped 27 shots but couldn't make key saves down the stretch, allowing Rob Blake's tying goal with 1:17 left in regulation and Milan Hejduk's game-winner 1:42 into overtime.

Hackett and Robert Esche were splitting time during Philadelphia's outstanding start. Esche, however, has appeared in only one game since Dec. 5 due to a groin injury and Hackett's been struggling, losing six straight starts while posting a 3.31 goals-against average.

"It's tough right now, it's tough for everybody," said Hackett, winless since Dec. 8. "We're really gripping our sticks tight. I wish I knew the answer."

The Flyers are 1-3-6 against the Stars since Dec. 6, 1996, including an 0-3-1 mark in Dallas.