This was just the latest in a season full of disappointments.
This may be the most painful.
This game started with Rangers heading in the right direction after a horrible slide, but it hinted at growth and ended in a sense of déjà vu.
The Blueshirts scored three goals in the first 10 minutes.
They then watched that lead disappear as the Stars continued to dominate the ball and create chances, taking the lead before the horn sounded for the second period.
Even in the final minutes they were unable to maintain a further advantage.
The Rangers were unable to escape in overtime, with Jamie Benn scoring the winning goal on a power play with 2:17 remaining, giving the Blueshirts a 5-4 loss.
The loss could have taken an additional toll on an already strong Rangers team (18-20-2).
Filip Sitil, who has a long injury history, left the game with an upper body injury and did not return.
His last shift ended with about four minutes left in the second period, and he was not benched for the third period.
Head coach Peter Laviolette did not provide any updates after the game other than that the center was being evaluated.
“This sucks,” said Alexis Lafreniere, who ended a 13-game drought with two goals. “Especially after the start, I felt like we played well. [Jonathan Quick] We also made some big saves, but we can't keep allowing good opportunities one after another. It will come in eventually. ”
Vincent Trocheck scored the second goal of Mika Zibanejad's shot from the front of the net with just over seven minutes left, and the normally injured Chris Kreider, occupying his power play position, gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead. gave. This unit recorded an astonishing 31-31 increase.
But Quandre Miller committed a costly turnover in the Blueshirt corner, and Thomas Hurley took advantage of a shooting lane with 2:39 left to force overtime.
There were a number of encouraging signs that suggested their progress in recent games was no fluke before Rangers took a two-game lead.
This was the version of Lafreniere who carried them when they made the playoffs last year.
Then, they earned points in six of the opening seven games to begin the 2024-25 season, and Lafreniere's production ignited the offense, scoring four goals and seven points.
Most of the next 32 games, which coincided with the period following a significant seven-year contract extension, saw Lafreniere's performance plummet.
Since Nov. 21, he has collected just two.
However, just seven minutes into the first period, things changed completely. Artemi Panarin dropped a pass to Lafreniere on a rush, and the winger took a shot past Jake Oettinger.
Less than five minutes later, Lafreniere scored his first multi-goal game since May 26 on the breakaway.
In the interval, Trocheck set off Will Bogen, giving the Rangers a commanding lead despite the Stars having an early chance.
“We started well, but we played well for about 10 minutes, and that wasn't enough,” Lafniere said. “Especially against a good team like that, you have to play 60 games. If we don't defend, they're definitely going to score.”
The collapse began when Urho Vaakanainen deflected the puck into the Rangers' net.
Evgeny Dadonov grabbed the rebound.
Jason Robertson then ran around the edge of the net, held the ball, and backhanded past Quick for the tying goal. Quick once again fell short of becoming the first American-born goaltender to reach 400 NHL wins.
Then, after Hurley's late tying goal, Panarin was whistled for hooking in the extra frame, giving the Stars their only lead at a crucial moment.
According to Natural Stat Trick, Dallas outscored the Rangers 68-48, with 13 of them coming on high-danger chances.
The Rangers' attempt to claw their way back into the wild-card hunt — they finished the night four points behind the Blue Jackets after picking up points — won't be any easier. Kreider was placed on injured reserve Monday with an upper-body injury.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin remains on IR under the same label.
And Sitil's career was in jeopardy with a concussion, having already missed seven games with an upper-body injury earlier this season.
Considering Artur Kaliyev's waiver claim and Matt Lempe's return from suspension, more lineup shuffling is sure to follow.
“I mean, when you come out of the game and you're up 3-0 at home and you didn't win a hockey game, we did enough things wrong defensively that you can't be satisfied,'' Laviolette said. said.
At some point, if the Rangers are going to salvage their season, they're going to need to win multiple games and win back-to-back games to keep the three-goal lead they had against the Stars from disappearing. There will be a loss. Tuesday was another missed opportunity.
