Rangers shut out Stars, 2-0

Coach Lindy Ruff said the Dallas Stars played one of their best games of the season Thursday night, but it didn't add up to a win or even points. The Stars had their chances but couldn't finish and fell, 2-0, to the New York Rangers at American Airlines Center.
"Played one of our best games and lost," Ruff said. "Skated as well as we have all year. We hit a post, a crossbar and missed two open nets. We had the opportunities."
Special teams were big in the game. The Stars killed off a five-on-three power play, the second half of it a major penalty for charging to Cody Eakin, who also picked up a game misconduct after running over New York goaltender Henrik Lundqvist behind the New York net. The Stars created some great chances on the power play but ended up 0-5 on the night.
But on that fifth power play a pass by Stars captain Jamie Benn was picked off by Rangers forward Rick Nash, who broke in on net to score shorthanded to snap a scoreless tie with 12:52 remaining. It would be the only goal the Rangers would need.
"I thought we played pretty good but it was my fault on the goal," Benn said. "It was a stupid play. When you are playing a good team like that you've got to make them make the first mistake. It was my fault, and I will take the blame for this one. It's not a good feeling."
The Stars, who were coming off a 6-2 win over Anaheim Tuesday, fell to 12-14-6 on the season and are 1-8-3 in games following a win. They have won consecutive games just once this season.
"It's frustrating," said Stars defenseman Jordie Benn. "The boys get frustrated, especially when we work the way we did tonight. I thought we played pretty good and it didn't go our way. We've got to stay positive, take the good stuff from that game and get ready for Philly (Saturday)."

The Rangers, who were coming off a 2-1 loss to Chicago on Tuesday, are 10-0-1 in games following a loss. Lundqvist, who had backed up Antti Raanta the previous four games, stopped 27 shots as the Rangers improved to 21-10-1.
"All I can say is that I went out there tonight with a lot of desperation in my approach," Lundqvist said. "I felt like it was an important game for me to just feel good. My game hasn't changed over a week, but obviously my mindset has changed because of everything that has been going on and it is a new experience for me."
After the Stars couldn't convert on the game's first power play they got into some big penalty trouble. Jason Spezza took a kneeing minor, and then a little more than a minute later, Eakin took the major penalty and game misconduct for charging Lundqvist behind the New York net.
"I was coming in pretty fast, trying to create some energy, and my intention was to go for the puck," Eakin said. "Obviously, it was not to make contact with him or his head. The collision carried me a little bit off my feet."
Lundqvist was shaken up on the play and went to the Rangers locker room, but did return later in the period.
"I didn't see him coming at all. When I went down, first you just check to make sure everything is the way it should -- neck, shoulders," Lundqvist said. "(The trainer) came out and told me you have to leave right away. So I got off, and the doctor asked me if I'm OK. I felt pretty good. Did a quick test and tried to rush to come back out there, because I really wanted to play."
Goaltender Antti Niemi, who had 28 saves on the night, and the Stars penalty killers thwarted the 51-second five-on-three New York power play and then the remaining 4:09 of Eakin's major to keep it a scoreless game.
"They did a good job killing that off," Eakin said. "You don't want to push the team down like that in any situation. It was a huge kill, some big saves, some good blocks. They did a really good job."
There were plenty of chances in the second period. New York's Chris Kreider shot wide of the net on a clean breakaway. Lundqvist came up with a big stop on a point-blank shot by Jamie Benn with the Stars on their second power play of the night. Spezza hit the post, and Jamien Benn put a shot off the crossbar seconds later. Lundqvist stopped Devin Shore from close range on the third Dallas power play of the game.
The Stars had a fourth power play to start the third period and had a great chance, but a John Klingberg shot through traffic at an open net went wide. The Stars went on their fifth power play at the 6:22 mark and the Rangers cashed in shorthanded. Nash picked off Benn's pass at the New York blue line and scored on a clean breakaway at the 7:08 mark to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
Niemi came up with a couple of great saves to keep the Stars within one goal, but when he was pulled for an extra attacker late in the game New York's Mats Zuccarello scored into an empty net to make it 2-0 and seal the win for the Rangers.
Notes
\The Stars have allowed 6 shorthanded goals, second most in the league.
\The Stars were shut out for the third time this season.
\The Stars are 0-5-2 vs. the Eastern Conference.
\Stars goaltender Antti Niemi is 6-2-1 at home this season with a 1.89 goals-against average and .940 save percentage.
\The Rangers outshot the Stars 30-27. The Stars had a 61-56 advantage in shot attempts.
\Tyler Seguin led the Stars with 7 shots on goal and 10 shot attempts.
\The Stars were 0-5 on the power play and 3-3 on the penalty kill.
\Dallas won 27 of 37 faceoffs (47 percent).
*John Klingberg led the Stars with 24:12 of ice time. Jamie Benn was next with 23:13.
What's Next
The Stars continue the homestand Saturday afternoon, taking on the Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers, who beat the Stars in Philadelphia last Saturday, are the hottest team in the NHL with ten straight wins.
Stars Lineup
Jamie Benn - Tyler Seguin - Jason Spezza
Antoine Roussel - Radek Faksa - Brett Ritchie
Lauri Korpikoski - Cody Eakin - Patrick Eaves
Jiri Hudler - Devin Shore - Adam Cracknell
Esa Lindell - John Klingberg
Dan Hamhuis - Stephen Johns
Johnny Oduya - Jordie Benn
Antti Niemi
Kari Lehtonen
Scratched: Patrik Nemeth, Jamie Oleksiak
Injured: Curtis McKenzie (upper body), Julius Honka (upper body), Patrick Sharp (concussion-like symptoms), Mattias Janmark (knee), Ales Hemsky (hip)
Watch: Postgame Quotes
Lindy Ruff: "We played one of our best games and lost. I thought we skated as well as we skated all year." 
Cody Eakin: "It was a huge kill, some big saves, some good blocks. They did a really good job."
Jamie Benn: "We did so many good things and one bad play can overshadow everything."
This story was not subject to approval of the National Hockey League or Dallas Stars Hockey Club. Mark Stepneski is an independent writer whose posts on DallasStars.com reflect his own opinions and do not represent official statements from the Dallas Stars. You can follow Mark on Twitter @StarsInsideEdge.