Rangers use perfect penalty kick to get much needed win over Stars

On By Littum

DALLAS – A win the Rangers could feel good about was at the top of their holiday wish list.

Especially with a grueling schedule ahead before the calendar turns to 2025, the Blueshirts’ 3-1 win over the Stars — a Western Conference contender — Friday night at American Airlines Center was both an accomplishment and a confidence-inspiring triumph.

Against a high-volume shooting team like Dallas, in front of a sellout crowd of 18,532, the Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak and picked up their first win over a team in playoff position since Nov. 19.

New York Rangers left wing Alexis Lafreniere (13) and center Vincent Trocheck (16) celebrate a goal scored against the Dallas Stars in the first period at the American Airlines Center on Friday night. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Rangers’ penalty kill was the star of the show.

Honestly, it’s the only aspect of their game that stood out during the challenging 3-11 skid.

The Blueshirts have been perfect on the PK in the past six games, as they thwarted all seven of the Stars’ power plays, including a five-minute stretch in the second half of the final frame.

During that span, the Rangers’ penalty kill has gone 17-for-17.

Their 12 power-play goals allowed so far this season were tied for fewest in the NHL entering Friday’s contest.

All this without one of their best penalty killers, K’Andre Miller, who remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.

Dallas Stars center Wyatt Johnston (53) tries to redirect the puck past New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) during the second period at American Airlines Center. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

The Rangers haven’t had many leads to defend lately, but the ones they’ve had haven’t lasted long.

Dallas put 15 shots on Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin (40 saves) in the third period alone, but Chris Kreider’s empty-net goal with just over two minutes left in regulation iced the game.

In his first appearance back in the Rangers lineup since Nov. 25, Matt Rempe found ways to make an impact before his night ended prematurely due to a five-minute elbow major and game misconduct he earned at 7:13 -time in the third period.

Rempe’s elbow crunched Miro Heiskanen into the boards and came up, knocking the Stars’ first-pair defenseman to the ice.

That led to a brawl in front of Dallas’ bench before the refs came to break it up.

New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) and Dallas Stars center Oskar Bäck, right, hit the boards while chasing the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. AP

The 6-foot-8 ½ forward drew three penalties in the second period alone, but the Blueshirts failed to capitalize on any of them in an 0-for-3 power-play performance.

Rempe also finished with five hits on the night in 5:27 of ice time.

The Rangers came away from the first period with a lead for the first time in three games.

After the teams traded forbidden goals through the first 90 seconds, Shesterkin gave up a long and juicy rebound that Roope Hintz capitalized on for the 1-0 lead.

Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger (29) knocks the puck away on an attack by New York Rangers’ Matt Rempe (73) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Friday, Dec. 20, 2024. AP

Reilly Smith later scored the Rangers’ fourth shorthanded goal of the season, tied for second most in the NHL.

Shorty ignited a Rangers push, allowing the visitors to outshoot (15-9) and out-hit (13-5) the Stars through the first 20 minutes.

Vincent Trocheck then blasted one from the top of the zone to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead at the first intermission.