Post-game notes:

Last season, winger Ben Smith pulled off what might even be a first — he played in only two NHL markets, but for four different teams.

In San Jose, Smith played six games for the Sharks and 14 for their AHL affiliate, the San Jose Barracuda. At Toronto, he played 16 games for the Maple Leafs and five for their farm club, the Toronto Marlies.

The Avalanche signed the North Carolina native and former Boston College standout as a free agent on Aug. 16. As one of four skaters to have played in both Colorado exhibition games so far, Smith has two goals — including the game-winner in the third period of the Avs’ 4-2 Wednesday win over Dallas in the Pepsi Center.

New Avalanche coach Jared Bednar, who was behind the Pepsi Center bench for the first time Wednesday night, said of Smith: “I thought he had a great game tonight. I just like the way he works. He works every shift. He pays attention to the details and his compete level is strong. When you compete like that, good things will happen for you.”

Bednar called his own experience “cool. I liked it. I was excited to come out and play tonight, I didn’t love our first couple of periods. A little too much standing around for me and we kind of dug in in the third and started to play the way I like to see us play.”

Bednar said the Avalanche now will make some cuts, and that Carl Soderberg and Gabe Landeskog — back after playing for Sweden in the World Cup — would practice Thursday. Semyon Varlamov, who has returned after Russia’s semifinal loss to Canada, practiced Wednesday afternoon with those who weren’t in the lineup against the Stars.