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Kevin Klein, Henrik Lundqvist lead Rangers past Stars, 3-2

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Kevin Klein and Henrik Lundqvist join forces to help keep the Stars offense in check.Jerome Miron/USA Today Sports

Kevin Klein and Henrik Lundqvist join forces to help keep the Stars offense in check.

DALLAS – Kevin Klein scored his second game-winning goal in the last four games to lift the Rangers to a 3-2 win over the Dallas Stars at American Airlines Center on Saturday afternoon, burying from the slot off assists from Derek Stepan and a masked Jesper Fast at 17:07 of the third period.

Klein, who also scored the overtime winner against the Detroit Red Wings at the Garden last Sunday, snapped a 2-2 tie by answering Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin’s goal just 68 seconds earlier off the left wing. The goal tipped in off the stick of Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi, who was victimized on both Dallas goals in a difficult outing to say the least.

Mats Zuccarello blocked a Nichuskin chance in the low slot after consecutive Derick Brassard turnovers in the closing minutes, though, and the Rangers (36-20-6, 78 points) swept this end-of-week, two-city swing through St. Louis and Dallas in their final game prior to Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline.

Henrik Lundqvist made 36 saves as he continues to put the Rangers on his back, and captain Ryan McDonagh scored a goal and saved a goal within 64 seconds in the third period in just his second game back from injury.

McDonagh, who already was playing a strong all-around game with smart defensive breakups, snapped a 1-1 tie with the game-winning backhand bank off Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen at 8:26 of the third off assists from Oscar Lindberg and Viktor Stalberg.

Then McDonagh saved a goal at 9:30 by dropping to his stomach to stop a Jason Spezza rebound of a Tyler Seguin point shot that snuck through Lundqvist.

The Rangers get a key road win on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images

The Rangers get a key road win on Saturday afternoon in Dallas.

Plenty of controversy surrounded the save. Stars coach Lindy Ruff was livid that an official NHL goal review in Toronto ruled no-goal based on “inconclusive ” evidence. The no-goal call on the ice stood even though replays appeared to show the puck cross the goal line, though, because McDonagh’s right thigh concealed most of the puck when it did, preventing an overturn of the original call.

The Rangers, who have been undisciplined lately, committed no penalties for just the fourth time all season and improved to 3-1-0 in those games. The Stars (38-19-6, 82 points) lead the Western Conference but the Rangers swept their two-game head-to-head series this season.

The only scout in attendance not from a team on the Rangers’ or Stars’ immediate upcoming schedule was Carolina Hurricanes Joe Nieuwendyk, the former 1,000-point scorer and 1999 Conn Smythe winner.

Hurricanes captain Eric Staal, 31, likely will be traded to a contender, and the Rangers would be thrilled to add the older brother of alternate captain Marc Staal. But there are significant impediments to doing so: Staal’s $8.25 million cap hit, the Blueshirts’ minimal cap space, GM Jeff Gorton’s tough call on parting with top players, picks or prospects, and Staal’s pending free agency this summer.

Fast wore a full caged mask to protect the nose he broke in practice on Friday, and the entire team wore decals in honor of Andy Bathgate on the backs of their helmets – a sticker with the initials AB inside the Rangers’ shield.

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