NHL-leading Avalanche win 5-4 in shootout to end Stars' franchise-record 10-game winning streak

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.

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)

PLANDISTE, Serbia (AP) — The merry chirping of birds echoed through towering trees in a small woodland in northeastern Serbia. Down on the ground, animal tracks could be seen imprinted in the moist grass and moss.

The 5-acre (2-hectare) piece of land, dubbed the Nightingale's Forest, is a rare patch of thick greenery in the flat, farming region of Serbia. The Balkan country's Bird Protection and Study Society bought the land last year through crowdfunding to preserve the forest and set an example in environmental protection.

“This woodland was privately owned, and we saw it was put up for sale,” society representative Uros Stojiljkovic told The Associated Press, adding that the trees probably would have been cut down if someone else had bought the land.

“The value of timber was higher than its (land) price," Stojiljkovic said. "We protected it this way."

The success of the crowdfunding initiative is seen as a sign of growing interest in nature protection among people in Serbia as the country faces environmental problems from air and river pollution and waste management to profit-driven construction threatening green areas, particularly in big cities.

Authorities have pledged to boost environmental care as part of the country's European Union membership bid, but protection groups have warned little has been done in reality.

The Nightingale's Forest is home to a variety of bird and animal species who thrive on its moist habitat, Stojiljkovic explained. The new owners now plan to list the plants and animals there while preserving the woodland as it is.

The purchase price of 8,000 euros ($9,500) was collected in less than a month and hundreds of people have continued to donate funds that will be used for field work or additional land purchases, said Natasa Jancic, who was involved in the campaign.

“Individually, we can't do much, but as an active and stable community, we can achieve a lot,” Jancic said.

Launched some 30 years ago as a small, expert-only group, the Bird Protection and Study Society has grown into a community of nature lovers, which is more proof of a mounting interest in the environment, Jancic said.

“We have many families who are members, many nature lovers who may not be that active in the field but they want to contribute somehow,” Jancic added.

Just 5 acres under protection won't change much on a larger scale, but it's a good first step, Stojiljkovic said.

“Every village or town should have a Nightingale’s Forest of its own for a cumulative effect,” he said. “It is important to start somewhere.”

Uros Stojiljkovic from the Bird Protection and Study Society walks through a small forest dubbed the Nightingale's Forest near the village of Plandiste, in the flat, farming region of Serbia, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Common starlings are seen on a tree in a small forest dubbed the Nightingale's Forest near the village of Plandiste, in the flat, farming region of Serbia, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A small forest dubbed the Nightingale's Forest is seen near the village of Plandiste, in the flat, farming region of Serbia, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

A small forest dubbed the Nightingale's Forest is seen near the village of Plandiste, in the flat, farming region of Serbia, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

Uros Stojiljkovic from the Bird Protection and Study Society looks through binoculars while watching birds in a small forest dubbed the Nightingale's Forest near the village of Plandiste, in the flat, farming region of Serbia, Thursday, April 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)