Calm as ever, Les Jackson issued a matter-of-fact challenge to the Dallas Stars on Saturday after they blew another third-period lead and lost a 4-2 game to the last-place Los Angeles Kings.

"It's in the players' hands," said one half of the Stars co-general manager team that took over in November. "It's their team. They have to decide how they want to come out of it."

Jackson watched calmly from the press box as Dallas allowed three goals in the final 3:01 and squandered a 2-1 lead. This came on the heels of the Stars allowing the game-winning goal with 27.2 seconds left to the Ducks on Wednesday. The Stars have been outscored, 14-1, in third periods during their recent 1-7-0 slump, with six of those games (1-5-0) on home ice.

"I think every team in the league goes through this. It's just frustrating when you're in it, because there's an answer and you just don't see it," Jackson said. "The answers are there. We just need to get through the tough periods and keep going, that's all."

Jackson said he doesn't feel the acquisition of Brad Richards at the Feb. 26 trade deadline has upset the chemistry of the team. Richards has nine points in nine games (five in his debut), but the Stars are 2-7-0 since he arrived.

"When players come in, there's always a time element of adjustment, but he's only one player on the team," Jackson said. "There's other guys who have been here a long time and can take this team and carry it – and they have to step up."

Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas said the Stars have to find the answers as a team.

"We're in this all together, and the only way to get out of this is all together," he said. "It's not one or two or three guys. We've just got to regroup. I know we've said that a couple of times lately, but that's where we are."

Ott returns: Forward Steve Ott returned from a three-game suspension for a hit to the head of Colorado's Jordan Leopold. Ott played 17:03, had four hits and helped give the Stars energy in the first period.

"It felt good to be out there," Ott said.

Briefly: Coach Dave Tippett juggled his lines in the second period, benching Antti Miettinen and replacing him on the first line with Stu Barnes. Miettinen played 6:55, none in the third period. Barnes played 17:59. ... Brenden Morrow has four points (3 goals, 1 assist) in his last five games. ... Since tallying the first hat trick of his career Feb. 28, LW Niklas Hagman has no points in the last eight games. ... The Stars are 5-3-1 in afternoon games this season and 28-11-2 under Tippett. ... D Mark Fistric had six hits.