Updated

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.