DALLAS (AP) — Valeri Nichushkin scored with 15 seconds remaining in regulation, then made one of NHL-leading Colorado's two shots in a shootout to beat Dallas 5-4 on Friday night, ending the Stars' franchise-record winning streak at 10 games.
Martin Necas had a goal and three assists for the Avalanche, then made the victory-clinching shot in the shootout after Nichushkin went first.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, blocks a shot as Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) attacks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) scuffle during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, scores on a power play shot against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon skates by his bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly (17) celebrates his goal with teammate right wing Valeri Nichushkin during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
The Avalanche still had an extra skater on the ice — after Stars captain Jamie Benn had missed an open net on his shot with just over a minute left in regulation — when Nichushkin's 13th goal tied it. Nichushkin had shots ricochet off both posts earlier in the third period.
Jake Oettinger had 25 saves for the Stars and Scott Wedgewood, his former backup in Dallas, stopped all 10 shots he faced throughout overtime before denying former teammates Jason Robertson and Matt Duchene in the shootout.
Wedgewood took over in net for the Avs after Benn’s goal 1:52 into the second period put Dallas up 4-2 after only 11 shots against Mackenzie Blackwood.
Wyatt Johnston, Miro Heiskanen and Justin Hryckowian each had a goal and an assist for the Stars, who hadn’t lost since Jan. 22. Their 86 points rank second in the NHL, seven behind their Central Division rival.
Nathan MacKinnon scored his NHL-leading 42nd goal only 12 seconds into a power play, and with just a second left in the first period, to get the Avs within 3-2. He also had two assists, while Cale Makar had a goal and an assist.
The game came hours after the trade deadline and the Avs reacquiring center Nazem Kadri, who was part of their 2022 title run. Kadri didn’t play and neither did the Stars’ additions this week: 6-foot-8 defenseman Tyler Myers from Vancouver and left wing Michael Bunting from Nashville.
Avalanche: Play at home Sunday against Minnesota, the third-place team behind the Avs and Stars in the Central Division — and Western Conference.
Stars: Host Chicago on Sunday.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl
Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger, left, blocks a shot as Colorado Avalanche left wing Gabriel Landeskog (92) attacks during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon (29) and Dallas Stars center Roope Hintz (24) scuffle during the second period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar, right, scores on a power play shot against Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche center Nathan MacKinnon skates by his bench after scoring a goal against the Dallas Stars during the first period of an NHL hockey game Friday, March 6, 2026, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Colorado Avalanche center Parker Kelly (17) celebrates his goal with teammate right wing Valeri Nichushkin during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Anaheim Ducks Tuesday, March 3, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)
MILWAUKEE (AP) — William Contreras hit a tiebreaking homer in the seventh inning and the Milwaukee Brewers hung on to beat San Diego 3-2 in their NL Division Series opener Saturday night after a potential go-ahead homer by the Padres' Ty France hit the American Family Field roof and landed in outfielder Jackson Chourio's glove for an out.
San Diego had a runner on first with one out in the ninth inning when France hit a towering flyball that struck a railing on the roof before Chourio caught it in fair territory on the left-field warning track.
Under the stadium's ground rules, any batted ball striking the roof or one of its cables in fair territory is a fair ball that can be caught for an out, so Chourio's catch retired France. The Padres unsuccessfully challenged that France's drive was a foul ball.
Jackson Merrill then lined out to right to end the game.
Chourio also hit a two-run homer as the Brewers won for the 16th time in 19 games. San Diego lost for only the fourth time in its last 24 outings despite chasing Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski after four innings.
This best-of-five series continues Sunday with a Game 2 pitching matchup featuring San Diego’s Michael King (12-10, 3.21 ERA) and Milwaukee’s Logan Henderson (11-3, 2.47).
Contreras had gone just 1 for 20 against the Padres this season before delivering the biggest hit of the game on a 3-2 pitch from Adrian Morejon. As his 406-foot shot cleared the wall in right-center field, the three-time All-Star turned to face Milwaukee’s dugout and celebrate in front of teammates on his way to first base.
Contreras joined Boston’s Willson Contreras to become the fifth set of brothers to homer in the same postseason, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The others are Ken and Clete Boyer (1964), Sandy Jr. and Roberto Alomar (1997), Stephen and J.D. Drew (2007) and Bo and Josh Naylor (2025). Willson Contreras homered in Game 2 of Boston's AL Wild Card Series loss to the New York Yankees.
San Diego wasted scoring opportunities all night, particularly late in the game.
The Padres loaded the bases in the seventh against Abner Uribe before DL Hall retired Merrill on a fly to left to end the threat.
San Diego also put runners on first and second with one out in the eighth after Hall issued a pair of walks, but the Padres again failed to capitalize. Austin Hays hit a fly to right against Hall that advanced pinch-runner Samad Taylor to third, then Trevor Megill struck out Fernando Tatis Jr. on three pitches to strand runners on the corners.
Megill then worked around a leadoff single to Dustin Harris in the ninth to pick up the save while getting a major assist from the roof.
Milwaukee was opening its postseason Saturday after winning a franchise-record 103 games to earn home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Misiorowski played a big role in that success by posting a 1.80 ERA, striking out 252 batters and limiting hitters to a .157 batting average to lead the major leagues in all three categories.
Misiorowski opened his first playoff start by throwing a 104.8 mph strike to Tatis, the fastest postseason pitch since tracking began in 2008.
But the 6-foot-7 right-hander left the game earlier than usual as the Padres fouled off 30 of his 88 pitches — 31 if you count Xander Bogaerts' popup that was caught in foul territory.
San Diego took a 2-0 lead by scoring a pair of runs off Misiorowski in the second inning.
Bogaerts, Ethan Salas and Luis Campusano hit consecutive one-out singles, with Campusano’s base hit to right driving in Bogaerts. Jake Cronenworth then hit a broken-bat grounder, and first baseman Jake Bauers was unable to throw out Salas at the plate.
San Diego could have done even more damage that inning, but Manny Machado grounded out to leave the bases loaded.
The Brewers responded in the third thanks to Chourio, who already has established himself as one of the game’s top playoff performers at age 22.
With a runner on second and one out, Chourio delivered a 420-foot drive over the wall in left-center for his franchise-record fifth career postseason homer in his 13th playoff game. Chourio had shared the mark with Prince Fielder and Orlando Arcia.
According to MLB.com, the only other players to hit five playoff homers before their 23rd birthday are Kyle Schwarber and Juan Soto.
See AP’s full MLB coverage here
San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. hits a single during the seventh inning in Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Milwaukee Brewers' Jacob Misiorowski reacts after striking out San Diego Padres' Luis Campusano during the fourth inning in Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill reacts after flying out during the seventh inning in Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a home run during the seventh inning in Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
Milwaukee Brewers' William Contreras reacts after hitting a home run during the seventh inning in Game 1 of a National League Divisional baseball playoff series against the San Diego Padres Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Kayla Wolf)
