NEW YORK – In the first twelve minutes of the first period, the Rangers had reason to hope. Sure, they still have a gap to close in the Eastern Conference standings and still have a tough schedule ahead of them. Yet here they were, a team of talented players going 3-0 against one of the most dangerous teams in the Western Conference. New York appeared to be on its way to its third win in four games.

Maybe, just maybe, this cursed season was turning around.

Dallas quickly refuted that notion. With the Rangers allowing one odd rush after another, it took the Stars three minutes to cut the deficit to one goal. “We were on the wrong side of the offensive zone in the first third,” coach Peter Laviolette said. Dallas tied the score in the second and then fought back to force overtime after the Rangers took a 4-3 lead in the third. Artemi Panarin awarded a hooking penalty in overtime and Jamie Benn finished off the Rangers with a redirect goal.

Ryan Lindgren hit his stick into the net right after the game ended, sending broken wood flying onto the glass. The Rangers, who had to make up ground in the table, had lost a point.

“It’s frustrating,” Adam Fox said. “We played a lot better hockey, but we have to get two points from it. One is better than zero, but it definitely should have been two points tonight.”

To make matters worse, New York lost an important player due to injury. Let’s dive into that and other takeaways from the game.

Alexis Lafreniere shoots a shot past Oettinger to give the Rangers the lead!#NYR pic.twitter.com/99gwPjB9GF

— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL highlights and news (@HockeyDaily365) January 8, 2025

Lafrenière survives the drought, the line thrives

Alexis Lafrenière’s fast start to the season seems like a long time ago. He entered Tuesday’s game without scoring in his last 13 games. Then Lindgren started a rush in the first period by feeding Panarin with a cross-ice pass through the neutral zone. Panarin dropped the puck to Lafrenière after entering the offensive zone, and the winger beat Jake Oettinger out of the offensive zone faceoff circle. Lafrenière punched the air excitedly.

New York needs him to score if it wants to be successful, and for the first time since December 8th, he did.

It was the start of a strong night for Lafrenière and his entire line. Less than three minutes later, he hit Oettinger with his backhand on the ball during a ball attack. The goalie saved, but after a few more battles around the net, Panarin grabbed a loose puck and shot. Oskar Bäck blocked the ball, but the puck went to Will Borgen, who fired another shot into the net. Vincent Trocheck was the deciding factor. The sequence came after a near-goal for the Stars. A shot went through Jonathan Quick, but Mika Zibanejad swept it out of the goal area before it went over the line.

The Rangers’ top line continued to provide offense as the game progressed. Dallas lost sight of Lafrenière when the Rangers broke the puck in their own end and Panarin found his wing for the breakaway. Lafrenière shot a backhand shot through Quick’s legs for his second goal of the night and 11th of the year.

The Panarin-Trocheck-Lafrenière night was strong but particularly dominant in the first period. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers led 3-0 in on-ice goals and 8-3 in shot attempts.

“They generated a lot,” Laviolette said. “They were included in the game. We created a lot of chances and scored a lot of goals for us.”

All three players on the line were also on the ice for Trocheck’s power play goal in the third period, but they were also on the ice when Thomas Harley scored the equalizer less than five minutes later.

“This sucks, especially after our start,” Lafrenière said afterwards. “I feel like we played well, (goalkeeper Jonathan Quick) made some big saves again. We can’t keep wasting one good opportunity after another. It will go in at some point.”

Rangers lose Chytil

Filip Chytil was sidelined in the third period after suffering an upper-body injury, the team said. The center’s last change of play came with 4:02 left in the second period. He did not appear to have any hard contact during the shift.

Laviolette, who typically doesn’t deal much with injuries after games, didn’t provide details when asked about the severity of the injury. He said Chytil was being evaluated and then repeated the same thing when asked if Tuesday’s injury was related to his concussion injury history.

Chytil has had multiple concussions, including one that cost him almost the entire 2023-24 season. This makes any upper body injury all the more concerning until the nature of the injury is determined.

Chytil missed seven games earlier this season due to an upper-body injury sustained in a collision with K’Andre Miller. He subsequently received a medical consultation outside the organization, which concluded he had not suffered a concussion. However, he did not immediately return to the game.

“I know my body,” he said when he returned. “I know what’s going on, even with my head.”

Chytil’s side had been struggling with the Stars before his injury, but he had played well early in the game. After the holiday break, he scored four goals in six games.

Miller turnover costly

With the Rangers leading 4-3 late in the third period, Miller appeared to be in control while the puck was in the defensive zone. A prescient Sam Steel changed that. He charged toward Miller and deflected a pass attempt behind the net to secure the ball. He fed Harley for the game-winning goal.

“Every time we score, things go wrong,” Laviolette said. “There are definitely things that could have been done better with this goal. In this particular case, there were a few glitches.”

Although Miller made the first mistake, Trocheck was unable to defend Harley.

“My mistake on the fourth goal,” said the center after the game.

“Of course I’m not happy about it. The fourth goal was my mistake though, so it doesn’t really mean anything if you don’t win the game. I need to sort that out.”

– Vincent Trocheck on today’s loss to the Stars pic.twitter.com/0TuAxSenZq

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) January 8, 2025

Power play goals to avoid

The last time the Rangers and Stars played, New York prevented Dallas from scoring in 17 minutes of power play time. The Stars needed just 1:34 to break that spell on Tuesday. After a Braden Schneider penalty, Mavrik Bourque shot at Quick from an odd angle. The goalkeeper was able to stop the ball, but the puck flew to Evgeni Dadanov, who was standing next to the net. He finished the game and brought the Stars within one goal.

New York didn’t score much on its first power play attempt, but broke through late in the game when Trocheck drained a shot from Zibanejad. It was a much-needed goal for the unit, which fell to 24th in the league with a 17.8 percent success rate.

“Honestly, it’s good to have the power play coming at a big time, which is something we’ve been missing the last few months,” Fox said.

Unfortunately for the Rangers, Dallas got another chance on the power play after a Panarin hook. All power plays in overtime take place in a four-on-three system, which is more difficult to defend. The attacking players have more space to work. Benn pushed Fox in front of the net to get him into position, then finished as Robertson placed a pass on his stick.

“Obviously I’d like to turn around and tie his stick, but there’s also a seam pass that you’re a little concerned about,” Fox said. “Sometimes it just happens on four-on-threes.”

(Photo: Dennis Schneidler / Imagn Images)