DALLAS — Avalanche coach Joe Sacco wanted more offense, and he got it in the form of six goals.

Unfortunately for him, the Avs gave up seven, falling in overtime 7-6 to the Dallas Stars on Friday night.

Loui Eriksson’s second goal of the night at 3:55 of overtime, which deflected off Avs defenseman Erik Johnson, provided the margin of victory after Colorado lost a 6-5 third-period lead.

“It was a crazy game tonight. Those pucks had eyes tonight,” Sacco said. “I don’t think it was a particularly strong game by either goaltender. It’s not a great game to watch from a coach’s standpoint, that’s for sure.

“I really liked our chances in overtime. We probably had three or four quality chances, and they came down and they capitalized on their chance.”

Following seven goals in the Avs’ previous four games, three of which were losses, Sacco moved center Matt Duchene from second-line center to first-line left winger, deploying him with Paul Stastny and Milan Hejduk, and the strategy paid off in a big way.

Not only did the Avalanche score six times, but Duchene responded with his first career hat trick and added an assist.

“I’ve had some tough luck this year. Even tonight, I feel like I could’ve had two more,” said Duchene, who now has five goals on the season. “It was nice from that perspective, but it’s too bad we lost. If we find a goal in OT there or in a shootout and win that game, it’s hands-down the most fun I’ve ever had playing a hockey game in my life.”

“Obviously, Matty had his legs moving tonight — that was key for him,” Sacco said. “He was skating, he was working hard and that’s why he got good results.”

Stastny also scored, as did Daniel Winnik and Jay McClement, while Ryan Wilson chipped in with three assists.

After recording two points (one goal, one assist) in his previous five outings, Duchene was electrifying, creating opportunities all night, and his third goal was a thing of beauty.

Carrying the puck into the Dallas zone on the rush, Duchene dipsy-doodled his way around Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas in the high slot and popped a quick wrist shot under the blocker arm of netminder Kari Lehtonen.

“Honestly, I didn’t plan to do that, I was going to make a pass,” Duchene said. “I saw Robidas kind of open up and I saw the pass wasn’t there, so I just tried to pull it through him. And the shot, honestly, I thought I just hit him in the chest, but then I saw it trickle through him, so it was a pretty lucky bounce there.”

Said Sacco: “He’s capable of doing that and that’s what we expect from him more on a consistent basis. Hopefully, that will help his confidence tonight.”

The highlight-reel goal put Colorado up 6-5 at 8:32 of the third period, but Dallas tied it again on Jamie Benn’s deflection goal with 4:10 left in regulation.

“It was tough. We had the lead a couple of times, they had the lead, it was back and forth, almost a coin flip to see who won that game. It’s too bad we lost,” Du- chene said. “But we got a point; it’s a big point.”

Winnik’s third goal of the season 1:57 into the third period snapped a 4-4 tie as he slipped a loose rebound in front under Lehtonen’s outstretched pad, but the Stars responded with their fourth power- play goal of the night when Eric Nystrom found the back of the net at 6:01.

The Avalanche jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Duchene and McClement during a dominant first period, but then surrendered four straight goals in the second period, including three on Stars power plays.

Avs Recap

The Post’s three stars

1. Matt Duchene.

Outstanding, scoring three goals and an assist.

2. Jamie Benn.

Stars center scored tying goal in third period, added three assists.

3. Loui Eriksson.

Scored two goals for the Stars, including game-winner in OT.

What you might have missed

Avs defenseman Ryan Wilson, with just one point (a goal) in his previous seven games, recorded three assists.

Up next

Vs. Calgary, Sunday at 6 p.m.