In a season full of disappointments, this became just the latest.

This one could burn the most.

That game – which saw the Rangers trending back in the right direction after their terrible relegation – stimulated growth and ended with a sense of déjà vu.

The Blueshirts scored three goals in the first ten minutes.

They then watched that lead evaporate as the Stars controlled possession, continued to create chances and pulled away before the second half buzzer.

Even in the final minutes they were no longer able to maintain their lead.

And the Rangers failed to escape in overtime when Jamie Benn scored the power-play winner at 2:17 and the Blueshirts lost 5-4.

That loss might have come with additional costs for a Rangers team (18-20-2) that is also already struggling.

Filip Chytil, who has a long injury history, left with an upper body injury and did not return.

His last shift ended with about four minutes left in the second period and he wasn’t on the bench in the third period.

Head coach Peter Laviolette had no update after the game beyond evaluating the center.

“This sucks,” said Alexis Lafreniere, who ended a 13-game losing streak with two goals. “Especially after our start. I feel like we played well. (Jonathan Quick) made some big saves again, but we can’t keep wasting one good chance after another. It will go in at some point.”

Vincent Trocheck gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead with just over seven minutes left when he redirected a shot from Mika Zibanejad into the net – taking the power play spot normally given to the injured Chris Kreider – for his second goal of the game to snatch the unit to a brutal 1-for-31 victory.

But K’Andre Miller committed a costly turnover in the corner of the Blueshirts’ end, and Thomas Harley took advantage of his shot with 2:39 left to force overtime.

Before the Rangers blew their lead, there were plenty of promising signs that the progress in recent games was no fluke.

When they made the playoffs last year, this was the version of Lafreniere she wore.

And when they put up points in six of their first seven games to start the 2024-25 season, this interpretation of Lafreniere got their offense going with four goals and seven points.

In most of the following 32 games, which coincided with the period following his massive seven-year extension, Lafrenière’s numbers had plummeted.

He had only collected two since November 21st.

But that changed just seven minutes into the first half when Artemi Panarin dropped a pass back to Lafreniere on the rush and the winger fired a shot past Jake Oettinger.

Less than five minutes later, Lafreniere secured his first multi-goal game since May 26 with a breakaway.

In between, Trocheck deflected a shot from Will Borgen and the Rangers took a commanding lead despite a few early chances for the Stars.

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“We got off to a good start, but playing ten good minutes won’t be enough,” Lafreniere said. “You have to play 60, especially against such a good team. If we don’t defend, they will definitely score.”

The collapse began when Urho Vaakanainen directed a puck into the Rangers’ net.

Evgenii Dadonov knocked in a rebound.

And Jason Robertson spun around the net, collected possession and shot the game-winning goal with his backhand past Quick – who once again failed to become the first American-born goalkeeper to win 400 NHL games.

Then, after Harley’s late equalizer, the Stars didn’t take the lead until it mattered most after Panarin was whistled for hooking in the extra frame.

According to Natural Stat Trick, Dallas outscored the Rangers 68-48, and 13 of those were dangerous opportunities.

The Rangers’ attempt to get back into the wild card hunt – they finished the evening with a point win, four points behind the Blue Jackets – won’t get any easier. Kreider suffered an upper body injury on Monday.

Goalkeeper Igor Shesterkin remains on IR under the same label.

And then there’s Chytil, whose career has previously been threatened by concussions and who already missed seven games earlier this season with an upper-body injury.

Given Arthur Kaliyev’s waiver claim and Matt Rempe’s return from suspension, there are sure to be more roster shuffles.

“I mean, you come out of the gates, you’re up 3-0 at home, you’re not winning a hockey game, and then you’ve done enough things wrong defensively to not be happy with it,” Laviolette said.

At some point, if they want to salvage their season, the Rangers will have to hit the ground running, winning multiple games to ensure that big leads like the three-goal lead against the Stars don’t disappear and lead to losses. Tuesday was another missed opportunity.