Valeri Nichushkin plays hero as Avs top Stars in battle of NHL's best

Nichushkin forced overtime in the final minute, then scored in the shootout to give Colorado the win.

Published on Mar. 7, 2026

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Valeri Nichushkin scored the game-tying goal with 15 seconds left in regulation and then added the shootout winner as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Dallas Stars 5-4 in a matchup of the NHL's top two teams. Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar also had big games for the Avalanche, while Martin Necas led the way for the Stars with a goal and three assists.

Why it matters

This was a highly anticipated game between the top two teams in the NHL, with the Stars coming in on a 10-game winning streak. The Avalanche were able to end that streak and pick up a big win against their division rival, further solidifying their status as one of the league's elite teams.

The details

The game featured several lead changes, with the Stars jumping out to a 3-1 lead before the Avalanche battled back. Nichushkin's late heroics forced overtime, and he then scored the decisive shootout goal to give Colorado the victory. Goaltender Scott Wedgewood came in relief and was perfect in the shootout to preserve the win.

  • The game was played on Friday, March 7, 2026.
  • Nichushkin scored the game-tying goal with just 15 seconds left in regulation.
  • The game went to a shootout after ending regulation tied 4-4.

The players

Valeri Nichushkin

A forward for the Colorado Avalanche who scored the game-tying goal late in regulation and the shootout winner.

Nathan MacKinnon

A star forward for the Colorado Avalanche who scored his league-leading 42nd goal of the season and added two assists.

Cale Makar

A defenseman for the Colorado Avalanche who scored a goal and added an assist.

Martin Necas

A forward for the Dallas Stars who had a goal and three assists.

Jake Oettinger

The goaltender for the Dallas Stars who made 25 saves but saw his personal winning streak end at eight games.

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What’s next

The Avalanche and Stars are scheduled to meet again on April 5, 2026 in Dallas.

The takeaway

This thrilling game between the NHL's top two teams lived up to the hype, with the Avalanche rallying late to hand the Stars their first loss in over a month. The win further cements Colorado's status as an elite team in the league and sets the stage for what could be an epic playoff matchup between these two powerhouses.