DALLAS — A win the Rangers could feel good about was at the top of their wish list for the holidays.
Especially with a grueling schedule ahead before the calendar flips to 2025, the Blueshirts’ 3-1 win over the Stars — a Western Conference contender — Friday night at American Airlines Center was both a performance and a triumph that injected confidence.
Against a high-volume shooting team like Dallas, in front of a sold-out crowd of 18,532, the Rangers snapped a three-game losing streak and picked up their first victory over a team in playoff position since Nov. 19.
The Rangers’ penalty kill was the star of the show.
Frankly, it’s the only aspect of their game that stood tall during the exorcised 3-11 skid.
Fending off all seven of the Stars’ power plays, including a five-minute stretch in the second half of the final frame, the Blueshirts have been perfect on the PK in the past six games.
Over that span, the Rangers’ penalty kill has gone 17-for-17.
Their 12 power-play goals allowed so far this season were tied for the fewest in the NHL entering Friday’s contest.
All this without one of their top penalty killers, K’Andre Miller, who remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury.
The Rangers haven’t had many leads to defend lately, but the ones they’ve had haven’t lasted long.
Dallas poured 15 shots on Rangers goalie 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.
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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 elbowing major and game misconduct he earned at the 7:13 mark of the third period.
Crunching Miro Heiskanen into the boards, Rempe’s elbow came up and knocked the Stars first-pair defenseman to the ice.
It prompted a scuffle in front of Dallas’ bench before referees came to break it up.
The 6-foot-8 ½ forward drew three penalties in the second period alone, but the Blueshirts failed to take advantage of 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 disallowed goals through the opening 90 seconds, Shesterkin gave up a long and juicy rebound that Roope Hintz capitalized on for the 1-0 lead.
Reilly Smith later scored the Rangers’ fourth shorthanded goal of the season, which is tied for the second most in the NHL.
The shorty ignited a Rangers push and allowed 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 going into the first intermission.