Denver — NHL fans can only hope this matchup is continued in the playoffs.
Facing Dallas for the second time in 29 hours, the Colorado Avalanche got two goals from Peter Forsberg as part of a decisive second period and held on for a 3-2 victory over the Stars on Sunday night.
Washington left wing Steve Konowalchuk , center, scores the game-winning goal with 1:28 left between Ottawa goalie Patrick Lalime and right wing Andreas Dackell. The Capitals beat the Senators, 6-5, on Sunday.
Chris Drury added a dazzling goal for the Avalanche, who lost by the same score in Dallas on Saturday.
The two games in two days resembled a playoff format for teams already familiar with one another. Dallas has eliminated Colorado in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals in each of the past two seasons.
"I'd like it to be where we get to the finals without having to play them because they're a dynamite team," Stars forward Grant Marshall said. "I think the respect level's there between the teams. Whoever pushes the most is going to be successful."
While Dallas remained three points ahead of San Jose in the battle for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs, Colorado ran its NHL-best point total to 101 and retained its seven-point cushion over the Detroit Red Wings for the top spot in the West.
The Avalanche have registered at least one point in 11 straight games.
"I thought it had playoff atmosphere," Forsberg said. "Every time we play them we expect a hot battle and we had one today."
After looking lethargic in the first period, Colorado took control in the second, with Forsberg and Drury leading the way.
Forsberg, who has nine goals and 16 assists in the last 10 games, tied it at 1 at 1:05 of the second and scored on a rebound at the right post during a 5-on-3 advantage less than five minutes later.
Ducks 1, Predators 0, OT
Anaheim, Calif. Mike Crowley scored his first NHL goal in over two years with 1:20 left in overtime, and Jean Sebastien Giguere earned his third shutout in nine starts as the Anaheim Mighty Ducks beat the Nashville Predators.
Flames 3, Thrashers 3
Atlanta Steve Staios and Hnat Domenichelli scored power-play goals in the final 9:29 of regulation as Atlanta tied Calgary. Fred Brathwaite finished with 40 saves, including three in overtime for Calgary, winless in its last four games. Norm Maracle made 31 saves, including two in overtime, for Atlanta. Dave Lowry and Clark Wilm scored to give the Flames a 3-1 lead.
Oilers 3, Hurricanes 2
Raleigh, N.C. Daniel Cleary scored with 2:15 left as the Edmonton Oilers tied a franchise record with their eighth consecutive victory, beating the Carolina Hurricanes. Edmonton moved a point ahead of Phoenix for seventh in the Western Conference.
Red Wings 3, Wild 2
St. Paul, Minn. Brendan Shanahan scored on a power play 37 seconds into overtime, lifting Detroit over Minnesota. The Red Wings rallied from a two-goal deficit to end a six-game road trip their longest of the season 3-1-2. Minnesota's power play, which has struggled for much of the season, helped the Wild to a 2-0 lead on goals by Sergei Krivokrasov and Darby Hendrickson.
Panthers 4, Islanders 1
Uniondale, N.Y. Florida's Pavel Bure had his third hat trick of the season extending his league-leading goal total to 48 and added an assist in a victory over the New York Islanders. The game matched Roberto Luongo, the former top Islander goaltender, and Rick DiPietro, the current top Islander goaltender.
Capitals 6 Senators 5
Washington Steve Konowalchuk scored with 1:28 left, capping a four-goal rally in the third period as Washington won its fifth in a row.
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