One real goal separated the Avalanche from the Dallas Stars on Saturday. The Avs scored it with 9:21 remaining in regulation before adding an empty netter on their way to an impressive 2-0 shutout victory against their division rival on the road on Saturday.

Martin Necas had a goal and an assist, including the game-winner. Nathan MacKinnon also had one to match his career-high of 51 on the season. In goal, Scott Wedgewood made yet another statement with an 18-save shutout. Even with the limited shots he faced, this was perhaps his most impressive win of the season.

The Avs secured their league-leading 50th win of the season. They are 50-15-10 through 75 games and have all but guaranteed the top seed in the Western Conference. They hold an eight-point lead with two games in hand on the Stars. One Avalanche win or one Dallas loss will clinch the No. 1 seed.

Both teams came out storming to start. Wyatt Johnston got a glorious opportunity in the opening seconds that was stopped by Wedgewood. As the shift continued, MacKinnon and Artturi Lehkonen generated an opportunity at the other end that was stopped by Casey DeSmith.

The shots were only 8-7 for Dallas at the conclusion of the opening period, but chances were had for both clubs.

The same can’t be said for the second period. Neither team had much space to move, as the defensive reined supreme for both clubs. The Stars had the lone power play in the period, which was killed with ease by the Avs. Dallas also had a successful PK in the opening frame.

Entering a final period still without a goal, both clubs started to press. Dallas had two big chances that were stopped by Wedgewood just as Brock Nelson was called for hooking at 6:12. The Stars had some momentum going as they went back to the PP. But it was shut down yet again.

Colorado gained some life from the kill and started to create opportunities. And then the game-changing play was born.

Jason Robertson tried to clear the zone by rimming the puck around the boards. At the blueline, Sam Malinski held it in for the Avs before sending it across the line to Devon Toews. The veteran defenseman found Lehkonen above the circle, and the forward had incredible patience with the open ice presented to him.

Rather than forcing a pass, Lehkonen waited for Necas to sneak in backdoor before sending it through both defenders for a tape-to-tape tap-in to Necas, who notched his 36th of the season and fourth game-winner.

The Avalanche played well defensively the rest of the way but needed Wedgewood to make a few more saves. MacKinnon’s empty netter came with 58 seconds remaining.

Good: Rock Solid On The Penalty Kill

The aspect of Colorado’s game that I was most interested in seeing in this game was the penalty kill. It’s well documented that the Avs’ power play has been a struggle for most of the year, and that they’re finally getting it figured out.

But the PK has been among the best in the league since October. Meanwhile, Dallas’ power play, with Mikko Rantanen and Wyatt Johnston leading the way, has been nearly unstoppable. At a 29.1% success rate, only the Edmonton Oilers have been better on the man advantage.

If these teams play again in the postseason, special teams are going to play a part in who wins. This was certainly the case last year. The Avalanche have to find a way to neutralize the Dallas PP. They did it in this game, as it was an exceptional four minutes of PK time.

Even more impressive, the Avs only gave up two shots to the Stars in those four minutes.

Bad: Not A Single Complaint

There isn’t a single aspect of the Avalanche’s game that I could complain about in this one.

This wasn’t the best version of the Avs, as they were missing Cale Makar and Nic Roy. It certainly was nowhere near Dallas’ best, as the Stars were without Roope Hintz, Sam Steel, Nathan Bastian, Radek Faksa, and both of their trade deadline acquisitions in Tyer Myers and Michael Bunting. Dallas also didn’t start Jake Oettinger.

But these teams battle every time they play. It doesn’t matter who is or isn’t in the lineup. If they do meet again in the playoffs, it’ll be some of the best hockey the league will witness this season.