MacKinnon breaks tie in 2nd, Varlamov stops 37 shots as Avalanche beat Stars 4-3

Dallas Stars center Vernon Fiddler, right, congratulates center Colton Sceviour after his goal against the Colorado Avalanche in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

Colorado Avalanche center Matt Dcuhene, left, gets checked into the boards by Dallas Stars defenseman Jordie Benn while pursuing the puck in the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Jan. 10, 2015, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) (The Associated Press)

DENVER – Nathan MacKinnon broke a second-period tie and Semyon Varlamov stopped 37 shots, leading the Colorado Avalanche to a 4-3 win over the Dallas Stars on Saturday.

Erik Johnson, John Mitchell and Matt Duchene also scored as the Avalanche won for the fifth time in six games to leapfrog Dallas in the Central Division standings.

MacKinnon's score with 8.4 seconds left in the second was part of a three-goal period for the Avalanche. They came out fast to start the third, too, with Duchene scoring just 12 seconds into period.

Brett Ritchie, Colton Sceviour and Ales Hemsky had goals for the Stars, who have dropped five straight in Denver.