The Rangers blow a three-goal lead in a brutal overtime loss to the Stars

On By Littum

In a season full of disappointments, this was positioned to be the latest.

The Rangers had broken out for three goals across the opening 11:24.

After that, they had seen that lead disappear as the Stars controlled possession, kept creating chances and eventually pulled it even before the second period ended.

A dejected Brett Berard skates off the ice as the Stars celebrate Jamie Benn’s game-winning goal in the Rangers’ 5-4 overtime loss on Jan. 7, 2025. Getty Images

They also couldn’t hold on to a late lead in the final minutes.

And they narrowly missed out in extra time when Jamie Benn scored to earn the Blueshirts a 5-4 loss and mark their latest failed bid to secure back-to-back wins for the first time since November.

This loss may have cost a Rangers group already fired up.

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

His final shift ended with about four minutes remaining in the second frame. He wasn’t on the Blueshirts bench to start the third.

Trocheck gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead with just over seven minutes remaining when he tipped in a Mika Zibanejad shot in front of the net — taking the power-play spot normally belonging to an injured Chris Kreider — for his second goal of the game snapping a brutal 1-for-31 stretch from the unit.

Alexis Lafreniere scores the first of his two goals during the Rangers’ OT loss. Robert Sabo for the New York Post

But K’Andre Miller committed a turnover tucked in the corner of his own end, and after some cycling, Thomas Harley capitalized on his shooting lane and scored with 2:39 left to force overtime.

Before Rangers blew their leads, there were plenty of promising signs to suggest progress in recent games was no fluke.

When the Rangers made their playoff run last year, this was the version of Lafreniere that carried them.

A pumped-up Vincent Trocheck celebrates with teammates after scoring a third-period goal, his second of the game, during the Rangers’ OT loss. Getty Images

And as they earned points in six of their first seven games to start the 2024-2025 campaign, that rendition of Lafreniere ignited their attack with four goals and seven points.

In most of the 32 games that followed, which coincided with the stretch following his massive seven-year extension, Lafreniere’s numbers declined.

He snapped a 13-game goal drought, collecting just two since Nov. 21.

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

Jonathan Quick makes a save during the Rangers’ OT loss. Robert Sabo for the New York Post

Less than five minutes later, Panarin turned another puck out of the Rangers zone to spark a breakaway for Lafreniere that secured his first multi-goal game since May 26.

In between, Vincent Trocheck tipped in a Will Borgen shot – and the Rangers, despite some early chances for the Stars, had a commanding lead.

However, it is Rangers 2024-25. Zibanejad had another brutal turnover that would have led to a goal had he not recovered and knocked the puck out of the crease.

Urho Vaakanainen deflected a puck into the Rangers net, Evgenii Dadonov tapped in a rebound, and then Jason Robertson curled around the net, collected possession and backhanded the tying goal past Quick. Dallas also hit the post a couple of times in the second.

Then they took their only lead of the night when it mattered.

The Rangers’ attempt to get back into the wild card hunt is not getting any easier either.

Kreider hit injured reserve Monday with an upper-body injury. Star goaltender Igor Shesterkin remains on IR with the same tag, although he could return as early as Thursday.

And then there’s also the Chytil variable. More mixed lineup — after claiming Arthur Kaliyev off waivers and getting Matt Rempe back from his suspension — could follow from head coach Peter Laviolette.

The Blueshirts’ next three games against the Devils, Golden Knights and Avalanche all feature opponents near the top of the standings.

At some point, if they are to save their season, the Rangers will have to go on a run to win more games to ensure that leads as big as the three-goal one they had against the Stars don’t slip away and result in losses. Tuesday was another missed opportunity.