NEW YORK -- Rick Nash was held without a point for the first time this season.

Yet the NHL’s hottest player still managed to put the puck in the net when it mattered most.

Nash enabled the New York Rangers to snap a three-game losing streak when he scored the lone goal in the shootout, and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist stopped all three shooters he faced in the team’s 2-1 victory over the lowly Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers had allowed 17 goals in their past three games. Lundqvist had given up six goals in each of his previous two starts.

Nash has six goals and one assist in five games.

Tying it up: A double deflection of Dan Girardi's shot from the right-wing boards by Mats Zuccarello and then Derick Brassard resulted in a 1-1 tie with 10:20 remaining in the third period. It was Brassard’s third goal of the season. Brassard’s goal came after a flurry of chances. Nash was robbed twice in front of the net, while Anthony Duclair would’ve had a tap-in goal if the referee hadn’t blown the whistle prematurely.

Falling behind: Chris Terry's shot appeared to be deflected and found its way by a screened Lundqvist, allowing the Hurricanes to go up 1-0 with 3:07 left in the second period. The Rangers were booed off the ice at the end of the second.

Powerless: The Rangers went 0-for-5 on the power play and are scoreless in 16 opportunities on the man advantage this season.

Mixing it up: Rangers coach Alain Vigneault mixed up his lines, trying to find the right combinations. It felt like Duclair must’ve played with half the forwards on the team. Matt Hunwick was inserted into the lineup for turnover-prone Mike Kostka.

Brotherless: Marc Staal's brothers, Eric (upper body) and Jordan (broken leg), were both out of the Carolina lineup due to injury. Jeff Skinner (concussion), Patrick Dwyer (lower), Andrej Sekera (upper) and John-Michael Liles (scratch) also did not play for the Hurricanes.

Shotless: The Rangers went 9:10 without a shot in the first period, as the Hurricanes fired 10 straight on Lundqvist.

Up Next: The Rangers wrap up a four-game homestand on Sunday afternoon against the San Jose Sharks.