Stars teammates congratulate Ales Hemsky on his overtime winner.
AP Photo by Kathy Willens/Getty Images

The final score read Stars 3 Rangers 2 on Ales Hemsky’s overtime winner at 1:02. That was generous considering the lack of effort the Rangers gave. For two periods, they stunk.

Outplayed by the Stars, who also were playing their second game in two nights, the Garden hosts looked like they couldn’t be bothered. That they were able to earn a stolen point is better than they deserved. They can thank ref tandem Paul Devorski and Frederick L’Eouyer. The phantom delay of game call on Dallas defenseman John Klingberg allowed Chris Kreider to tie the game with 1:20 remaining. He was able to capitalize on a Kari Lehtonen coming out of net by steering in a rebound of a Mats Zuccarello shot.

Dallas would go on to get just reward when Hemsky undressed the Rangers defense before skating out into the slot and firing a laser top shelf past a screened Cam Talbot. Jyrki Jokipakka and Jason Spezza earned assists on Hemsky’s ninth. Marc Staal was battling in front and Talbot never flinched. Making his third consecutive start, he was solid finishing with 22 saves. Most came in the second when the Stars sent 17 his way. The Rangers are 1-1-1 since Talbot took over. His next start comes at Toronto Tuesday with Colorado and Arizona to follow. None are back-to-back.

With the point, the Rangers climb to 65 points. They remain fourth in the Metropolitan Division a point behind the Capitals with three more games left. They’re three behind the Penguins and trail the Islanders by four. The Isles held on for a 3-2 win over the Sabres to win for only the second time in six. From a playoff standpoint, they’re okay. With 31 games remaining, they’re in wildcard position two up on eighth Boston and eight clear of Florida, who lost to Nashville in a shootout.

Of more concern is why they waited so long to play. Coach Alain Vigneault rarely benches players unless it’s J.T. Miller. He actually sat the top line of Rick Nash, Derek Stepan and Martin St. Louis the final six-plus minutes of the second period. Stepan at least had a reason for struggling rushing back from the flu. St. Louis has been bad for a while. Nash has carried them. At the end of two, they were all negative corsis. I don’t put too much emphasis on it but you are what you are regardless of puck possession.

Admittedly, I didn’t see much of the second opting to watch a ESPN 30For30 on Paul Westhead and Loyola Marymount featuring Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble. It’s a time I reflect back on because of Gathers’ tragic death during a game on March 4, 1990. So, it had my undivided attention. I could tell from flipping that the Rangers weren’t playing well. The first period was enough to put fans to sleep. The teams combined for 10 shots. I guess I could tell what kind of game it was.

I managed to catch Dan Boyle taking a penalty which handed the Stars a 5-on-3. Jason Spezza scored from Tyler Seguin and Klingberg to put them ahead. Boyle got over 19 minutes of ice-time and continues to underwhelm. If I have to hear MSG’s Joe Micheletti praise him again, I’m going to toss the remote control at the TV. Boyle went minus-two. Unless he produces offensively or on the power play, he’s a waste. This was Glen Sather’s choice over Anton Stralman.

While I was watching the ESPN documentary, Carl Hagelin managed to tie the game. Kevin Hayes picked up another assist and Kevin Klein continued his renaissance with a helper. When I did have it on, it was the trio of Hayes, Hagelin and J.T. Miller that caught my eye. They were the most consistent line. Maybe Vigneault should wise up and keep them together. With Jesper Fast out, he has no choice. He did say he will meet with Sather and Jim Schoenfeld and decide on a recall from Hartford.

The Stars went back in front on Erik Cole’s 14th from Spezza and Hemsky with 1:55 left in the period. If there is a frustrating topic that’s starting to get noticed, it’s Zuccarello’s reluctance to shoot. Playing with Derick Brassard and Kreider, he almost always defers to the other shooters. Neither of which are Nash. Zuccarello had Brassard on a two-on-one and of course his pass missed connection. He was 20 feet from Lehtonen. It really is exasperating.

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Others agree. Zuccarello needs to be more of a threat. Offensively, he has played better recently. His assist on Kreider’s power play gift gave him points in five straight (1-5-6). He took three shots with his biggest caroming off Lehtonen for Kreider’s rebound at 18:40 of the third.

The Rangers played one period. They outshot the Stars 20-2. Vigneault went back to the top line starting them. They played better as did the other six forwards he went with. Believe it or not, he shortened his bench which meant no Tanner Glass or Lee Stempniak the final 20 minutes. Both got 13 shifts and less than eight minutes. Dominic Moore received 19 shifts including 3:50 shorthanded of his 13:03 game total. He can be trusted.

Despite peppering Lehtonen, the Rangers needed a favorable call to steal a point. One Klingberg couldn’t believe. Any person with good vision could tell live that his clear attempt deflected off the glass first before going out of play. How the refs decided it was a penalty I’ll never know. It’s still not as baffling as the Rangers playing Henrik Lundqvist risking a stroke. Thanks to that call, they got a point. Take it and move on.

NY Puck 3 Stars:

3rd Star-Alex Goligoski, Stars (great defensively, 2 hits, 2 blocked shots, +1 in 24:22)

2nd Star-Jason Spezza, Stars (PPG-10th, 2 assists, 13-and-5 on faceoffs, +2 in 14;49)

1st Star-Ales Hemsky, Stars (beautiful OT winner-9th, assist, +2 in 12:44)