Barrie scores winner as Avalanche down Canucks 4-2, grab Central Division lead

Colorado Avalanche's Jamie McGinn, Tyson Barrie and Maxime Talbot. from left, celebrate Barrie's goal as Vancouver Canucks' Kevin Bieksa skates past during the third period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck) (The Associated Press)

Vancouver Canucks goalie Jacob Markstrom, bottom, of Sweden, covers up the puck as Colorado Avalanche's Nathan MacKinnon crashes into the net during the second period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 10, 2014, in Vancouver, British Columbia. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck) (The Associated Press)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia – Tyson Barrie scored the go-ahead goal in the third period as the Colorado Avalanche defeated the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Thursday night.

Paul Stastny added two goals and Semyon Varlamov stopped 38 shots for Colorado, which is 8-0-1 in its last nine games and took over top spot in the Central Division ahead of the scuffling St. Louis Blues.

John Mitchell scored into an empty net for Colorado in the final minute to seal it.

The Blues, who have lost four straight, and Avalanche each have 111 points with two games left, but Colorado holds the tiebreaker.

Barrie's winner came with 7:30 left in regulation with the game tied at 2 and the teams playing 4-on-4.

Henrik Sedin and David Booth had scored for Vancouver, which got 24 saves from Jacob Markstrom in his first start for the Canucks.