The Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars are locked in a tense Central Division battle, with late-season surges, key injuries, and Thomas Harley’s overtime heroics setting the stage for a dramatic showdown.

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.

Colorado Avalanche (41-10-9, in the Central Division) vs. Dallas Stars (38-14-9, in the Central Division) Dallas; Friday, 8 p.m. EST BOTTOM LINE: The Colorado Avalanche are looking to prolong a three-game win streak with a victory over the Dallas Stars.

Hours after the NHL trade deadline, with rosters set, the top two teams in the NHL clashed at American Airlines Center Friday night for a measuring-stick game as the playoff race heats up. The Stars blew a late lead to fall 5-4 to the Colorado Avalanche in a crushing shootout defeat,

The Colorado Avalanche visit the Dallas Stars for a Friday 8 p.m. ET battle at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

The Dallas Stars edged the Colorado Avalanche 2-1 in a shootout, tightening the NHL standings as Wyatt Johnston scored the winning goal and Jake Oettinger made crucial saves.