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)

ATLANTA (AP) — Jordan Walker homered and drove in four runs, Nathan Church hit a tying two-run homer in a seven-run seventh inning and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Atlanta Braves 11-5 on Thursday night.

The Braves led 5-3 before the Cardinals rallied in the seventh. After Church's homer off Tyler Kinley (4-3), JJ Wetherholt's run-scoring single off Dylan Lee gave St. Louis the lead. Walker added a run-scoring single in the big inning.

Alec Burleson homered in the ninth and Masyn Winn had three hits and a walk for St. Louis.

Right-hander Gordon Graceffo (6-1) pitched a scoreless sixth as St. Louis won two of three in the series. The Cardinals gave manager Oliver Marmol a win on his 40th birthday.

Dominic Smith drove in three runs with a double in Atlanta's five-run first inning.

Smith's liner bounced of St. Louis right-hander Dustin May's right ankle and down the right-field line. May gave up two more singles before leaving the game. He allowed five runs while recording only two outs.

The Cardinals said May suffered a contusion to his ankle.

Braves right-hander Hurston Waldrep gave up a three-run home run to Walker in the first inning and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his first major league start since last September against Washington. Waldrep missed the start of the season while recovering from surgery to remove loose bodies from his right elbow.

Atlanta shortstop Jim Jarvis had one hit following his recall from Triple-A Gwinnett, Veteran first baseman Rowdy Tellez was designated for assignment.

Cardinals: RHP Andre Pallante (9-5, 3.83 ERA) was scheduled to start when St. Louis opens a weekend series at the Chicago Cubs on Friday.

Braves: Atlanta opens a four-game home series against the New York Mets. RHP Grant Holmes (4-4, 3.96) was scheduled to face Mets RHP Christian Scott (2-0, 3.20).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves' Mauricio Dubón rounds second base in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

Atlanta Braves pitcher Hurston Waldrep delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker, right, reacts after hitting a three-run home run against Atlanta Braves pitcher Hurston Waldrep in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Dustin May (3) delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker, center, reacts with Iván Herrera (48) and JJ Wetherholt (26) after hitting a three-run home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Thursday, July 2, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)