Injury-plagued Rangers continue free fall with 2-1 loss to Stars

DALLAS - Injuries are mounting and losses keep coming.

Now missing five regulars with Jimmy Vesey concussed and Marc Staal suffering a cervical strain, and with a likely sell-off looming, the Rangers on Monday were defeated once again, losing 2-1 to the Stars. The Blueshirts (25-23-5) have lost three straight since the All-Star break, six of their last seven and nine of their last 12.

With only three regulation wins in their last 19 games and frustration palpable, Henrik Lundqvist says the team maintaining togetherness is "everything."

"In this league, I take working hard for the team over skill any day," said Lundqvist, who made 21 of his 39 saves in the first period. "That's what we need right now. We need everybody doing whatever they can, what's best for the team. We do not have room for anything else. We have to stick together, we have to do whatever's best for this group to try to win games. Play disciplined, work hard and be honest with ourselves here about how we're playing and how we evaluate everything."

Martin Hanzal scored the winner on a power play 4:05 into the third with a tip in front of a Julius Honka shot from the blue line. The Rangers' penalty kill is 17-for-26 (65.4 percent) in the last eight games.

"We take too many penalties. We're a team right now, it's hard for us to get wins, we can't take too many penalties. That's a fact," Lundqvist said.

David Desharnais' goal with 2:05 left in the first gave the Rangers a first-intermission lead despite being outshot 21-9. Tyler Seguin tied the game 14:44 into the second, ringing a shot in off the left post during a delayed-penalty six-on-five situation. The Rangers were out-attempted 67-36 through two periods.

"Obviously it's hard. When you go through stretches like this you start doubting yourself and what you give to the team," Mats Zuccarello said. "So I think it's important to everyone - we're not gonna get out of this by being negative."

Vesey and Staal, who were each injured on unpenalized head shots during Saturday night's game in Nashville, joined Chris Kreider (blood clot, rib resection), Kevin Shattenkirk (meniscus surgery) and Pavel Buchnevich (concussion) on the injured list. Vesey was at the arena doing an off-ice workout Monday morning while Staal remained at the team's hotel. The severity of Staal's injury isn't yet known and there's no timetable for either player.

Vinni Lettieri, who remained with AHL Hartford after the All-Star break but was recalled Sunday, dressed for Vesey while Steven Kampfer replaced Staal.

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