Rangers defeat Avalanche in shootout, MacKinnon’s point streaks end

Kaapo Kakko and Chris Kreider scored for the Rangers (49-20-4), who have won four in a row and six of their past seven games. The Rangers lead the NHL with 49 wins and 102 points, one ahead of the Dallas Stars.

“I just think it was tight, like we were really focusing on playing tight defense. They’ve been pretty tight as well,” New York coach Peter Laviolette said. “We knew that coming in here, with their team speed and their skill, and they have game breakers, that we needed to play the game hard in the right way, and I thought that we did that it.”

Casey Mittelstadt scored, and Alexandar Georgiev made 23 saves for the Avalanche (46-21-6), who have lost two in a row after winning nine straight.

Colorado is second in the Central Division, three points behind the Stars.

Nathan MacKinnon had his point streak end at 19 games, and his season-opening home point streak end at 35 games. He had 77 points (29 goals, 48 assists) during his home streak, which was the second-longest in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky owns the record at 40 games (Los Angeles Kings, 1988-89).

“I think it’s a positive thing. Guys are excited for him, and guys get excited on our team when other players hit milestones and have big nights,” Colorado coach Jared Bednar said. “It’s a tight group in there, and so I think it’s been a real positive thing, especially down the last little bit. I don’t think anyone thinks about it when he’s at 15, 16, 17, 20, whatever. But you start getting to when he starts passing the No. 3 and No. 2 on the list, I think guys are all like really rooting for him.”