This was a monumental game for Patrick Roy, the coach.

As a teammate, Roy despised Mario Tremblay, even before Tremblay became his coach for the Montreal Canadiens in 1995.

On Tuesday night at the Pepsi Center, Roy tied Tremblay for an NHL record he spearheaded — six consecutive victories to begin a head-coaching career.

The Roy-led Avalanche beat the Dallas Stars 3-2 to improve to 6-0 and further stamp the best start in Avs history. But it could get a lot sweeter. On Thursday against the visiting Detroit Red Wings, Roy’s most hated rivals as a player, the Colorado coach can one-up Tremblay and become the only NHL bench boss to begin a career 7-0.

“For him coming in as an NHL rookie coach, people really didn’t know what he was capable of. We knew as a player but not as a coach,” Avs captain Gabe Landeskog said of Roy. “He’s done a great job, and we love playing for him. It’s obviously great that he tied (Tremblay’s) record, and it gives another reason to keep it going (Thursday).”

Flash back to Dec. 2, 1995, the night Roy, the proud goalie who had already won two Stanley Cups and a Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, felt humiliated by Tremblay in an 11-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Roy allowed nine goals and was mocked by Montreal fans before Tremblay finally replaced him — far too late, in Roy’s opinion.

Tremblay took over the 0-5 Canadians in October 1995 and reeled off six consecutive victories behind Roy’s stellar goaltending. Roy has done it again, but this time as a coach.

“I don’t care about the 7-0,” Roy said. “That’s what I said to the guys before the game. We have to take care of the things we can control. What we control is how well we play the game.”

Roy’s best players Tuesday were center Matt Duchene (two goals) and goalie Semyon Varlamov, who improved to 5-0 after a disastrous, 11-21-3, lockout-shortened season. Varlamov notched his third 35-plus-save effort despite allowing two goals for the first time this season.

Duchene beat goalie Dan Ellis with two tremendous wrist shots, the first unassisted to tie it 1-1 and the latter on a delayed penalty after replacing Varlamov while being the freshest player on the ice. The Nathan MacKinnon-centered line hemmed the Stars in their zone before they took a penalty and Duchene hopped into the mix.

His second goal made it 3-2 late in the second period and Varlamov shut the door in the third.

Defenseman Jan Hejda had Colorado’s other goal, with rookie Nathan MacKinnon assisting for his team-high seventh point. Duchene’s second goal served as his 200th career NHL point and tied MacKinnon for the team scoring lead.

“There’s nights that we’ve played better. Tonight was not our best game,” Roy said. “Obviously tonight there are some details of our game that I wasn’t too happy (about) and we’re going to have to fix. Good thing is we can fix it by winning. It’s a lot more fun than losing.”

Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mikechambers

Avs Recap

THE POST’S THREE STARS

1. Semyon Varlamov. Avs’ goalie was outstanding in improving to 5-0.

2. Matt Duchene. Two skilled wrist-shot goals from the Avs’ 22-year-old center.

3. Dan Ellis. Stars’ goalie robbed Colorado shooters numerous times.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

Avs captain Gabe Landeskog outskated a Dallas defenseman to the circle dots to negate a Colorado icing with 23 seconds remaining and kill more time. The Stars nearly scored to tie it as time expired.

UP NEXT

Detroit, Thursday at the Pepsi Center.

Mike Chambers, The Denver Post