DENVER -- Valeri Nichushkin scored two goals, and the Colorado Avalanche avoided elimination with a 7-4 win against the Dallas Stars in Game 6 of the Western Conference First Round at Ball Arena on Thursday. The best-of-7 series is tied. Game 7 is in Dallas on Saturday.

Nathan MacKinnon got credit for a go-ahead goal with 10:56 remaining after the puck bounced off the shoulder of a Dallas player, and the Colorado Avalanche staved off elimination by beating the Stars 7-4 in Game 6 on Thursday night.

The Avalanche will live to see another day in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after an inexplicable deflection pushes them past the Stars