Zadina, playing in his fourth NHL game, gave Detroit a 3-2 lead at 17:43 of the third period with a one-timer from the right circle that deflected off Avalanche defenseman Ian Cole's stick on the power play after Colorado was penalized for too many men.
"It's good, it feels good and hopefully we win some games soon and it will be sweeter," Zadina said. "That was a great pass [from Filip Hronek]. He saw me there and we're kind of used to each other. It was a great moment. Unfortunately, we didn't win."
Barrie's goal, his first since Jan. 23 (17 games), came with Varlamov pulled for the extra skater.
"I was going real good before the All-Star break and it's been a little cold since then," he said. "It's been a little frustrating because I know my job is to produce and help this team score. It was nice to get a couple (points) tonight and hopefully they get the ball rolling.
"They seemed to be giving us a little time up top. [MacKinnon] threw it through to [Rantanen] and he made a nice little one touch (pass) right on the platter for me. It's probably a shot I've taken 20 times in the last little while and it hasn't gone in. I'm not usually super emotional when I score, but I think I gave a little fist pump there. I was pretty pumped. That one felt good."