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)

CHICAGO (AP) — Brock Boeser batted the puck in to break a tie at 2:40 of the third period and the NHL-worst Vancouver Canucks beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-3 on Friday night to end a seven-game losing streak that started in January.

Boeser smacked the puck past Arvid Soderblom after Linus Karlsson's cross-ice feed ramped up the goalie's stick and into the air. Max Sasson and Boeser added empty-netters.

Drew O’Connor, Jake DeBrusk and Teddy Blueger had first-period goals and Nikita Tolopilo stopped 20 shots to help Vancouver win for the first time since a 2-0 home victory over Anaheim on Jan. 29. The Canucks had lost 10 of 11.

Ryan Donato, Ilya Mikheyev and Frank Nazar scored for Chicago in its fourth loss in five games since the Olympic break. Soderblom made 16 saves.

Before the game, Chicago traded forward Nick Foligno to Minnesota for future considerations. Andrew Mangiapane made his debut for the Blackhawks after being acquired from Edmonton on Wednesday.

Vancouver made a couple of big moves leading up to the trade deadline Friday, sending defenseman Tyler Myers to Dallas on Wednesday and winger Conor Garland to Columbus late Thursday. In December, the Canucks made the biggest deal of the season when they shipped captain Quinn Hughes to Minnesota.

Vancouver led 3-2 after a period. There were three goals in the first 2:32 and four in the first 6:32.

Donato opened the scoring for Chicago on a backhander at 1:08. Vancouver scored the next three — O’Connor at 2:08, DeBrusk at 2:32, both on tips, and Blueger at 6:32.

Mikheyev scored for Chicago from the slot with eight minutes left in the period, and Nazar tied it on a tip with 43 seconds to go in second.

Canucks: At Winnipeg on Saturday.

Blackhawks: At Dallas on Sunday

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Chicago Blackhawks' Ilya Mikheyev (95) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks' Frank Nazar (91) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Nikita Tolopilo (60) misses a goal by Chicago Blackhawks' Ryan Donato during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Chicago Blackhawks goalie Arvid Soderblom (40) makes a save during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks in Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)

Vancouver Canucks' Jake DeBrusk (74) celebrates with teammates at the bench after scoring during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Chicago Blackhawks in Chicago, Friday, March 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)