Avalanche 3, Stars 2: Matt Duchene scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner, as host Colorado remained one of two unbeaten teams in the league.

Semyon Varlamov made 39 saves to improve to 5-0-0 and defenseman Jan Hejda added a goal as the Avalanche (6-0-0) moved within one win of matching the best start in franchise history, set in 1985-86 when the team was located in Quebec City. PA Parenteau had a pair of assists as Patrick Roy joined Mario Tremblay as the only NHL coaches to begin their careers with six straight victories.

Rich Peverley and Cody Eakin scored for Dallas, which dropped the final two contests of its three-game road trip. Dan Ellis stopped 23 shots for the Stars, who registered 35 of their 41 shots on Varlamov over the final two periods. Colorado has yielded only six goals in its six games.

Peverley sneaked behind the defense and beat Varlamov to the glove side for a 1-0 lead 4:18 into the opening period. Duchene pounced on a turnover and snapped a shot past Ellis at 11:43 before Hejda's blast from the point deflected in with seven seconds left in the session for a 2-1 edge.

Eakin pulled the Stars even at 10:58 of the middle period, burying a wrist shot from the right faceoff circle with one second left on the power play. Duchene answered just over three minutes later on a delayed penalty, rushing in from center ice before beating Ellis top shelf from the left circle with 5:42 left.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Duchene extended his goal-scoring streak to three games and point streak to four. ... Eakin's power-play tally was the first against the Avalanche this season in 14 chances. ... Ellis made his second straight start in place of starting G Kari Lehtonen, who is expected to miss at least one more game with a lower-body injury.