NEW YORK (AP) -- The time for moral victories has long since passed for the New York Rangers. And now there's barely any time at all to salvage a playoff spot.

Jamie Langenbrunner scored twice and Mike Modano matched his career high with points in 10 straight games Monday night as the Dallas Stars dealt a serious blow to the Rangers' postseason hopes with a 4-3 comeback victory.

New York, in 10th place, is one point out of the Eastern Conference's eighth and final playoff position with only 11 games left.

"It doesn't matter how well you play," coach John Muckler said. "If you don't get the two points, you don't get the two points. Playing well doesn't count anymore."

The Rangers grabbed a 3-1 lead over the Stanley Cup champions in the second period, but couldn't hold on and lost for the fourth time in five games.

A victory would have moved New York into seventh place. The Rangers, who have 11 games remaining, have missed the playoffs in each of the last two seasons.

"It was a game we needed really bad," center Petr Nedved said. "We were in a great spot, and there's no excuse for losing this game."

Langenbrunner's second goal with 8:17 left, set up by Modano, broke a 3-3 tie. The Stars got goals from Scott Thornton and Jon Sim in the second period to even the score.

"We weren't happy in the first period," said captain Derian Hatcher of the Stars, who trailed 2-1 after 20 minutes. "That's a typical Dallas Stars game. Inconsistent in the first and then the other team might get comfortable and that's when we take advantage."

Langenbrunner, playing his 300th career game, has 14 goals this season for the Stars, who won for the 31st straight time on the road when they score at least three goals.

Manny Fernandez, playing his fourth consecutive game in place of Ed Belfour, made 30 saves for his second win in as many days. Fernandez, who hadn't made consecutive starts all season, is 2-2 since Belfour left the team.

Belfour, arrested last week on assault charges, is expected to rejoin the Stars on Tuesday and be available to play Wednesday night at New Jersey.

Fernandez, who allowed two goals to the Rangers from long distance, kept it tied when he stopped Radek Dvorak's penalty shot with 29.5 seconds left in the second period.

"I'm glad he didn't take it from the red line," Fernandez said. "It probably would have gone in."

Dvorak had a goal and an assist for the Rangers.

The penalty shot was awarded, with New York shorthanded, when Dvorak was pulled down by former Rangers defenseman Sergei Zubov. On the attempt, Fernandez deflected Dvorak's shot with the shaft of his goal stick.

"I went to my backhand, like I always do, I just couldn't score," Dvorak said of his first NHL penalty shot and the record 35th in the league this season.

Thornton made it 3-2 at 7:03 of the second when he took a pass from Joe Nieuwendyk in the high slot and scored his fifth goal.

Sim's fifth goal with 3:50 left brought Dallas all the way back.

Dallas grabbed a 1-0 lead just 1:47 into the game, with the teams skating 4-on-4, when Langenbrunner scored on the Stars' third shot.

The Rangers came back 14 seconds later when Dvorak beat Fernandez with a rising slap shot from just inside the blue line. Dvorak's 18th also was scored when both teams had a man in the penalty box.

New York made it 2-1, with the teams once again skating 4-on-4.

Brian Leetch drew three defenders to him in the left circle and fed Mathieu Schneider, who ripped a shot for his eighth goal. Petr Nedved's breakaway goal 2:49 into the second made it 3-1. The Stars also were without forwards Jere Lehtinen (ankle), Blake Sloan (leg), Guy Carbonneau (wrist), Brian Skrudland (chest) and defenseman Shawn Chambers (knee). A woozy Darryl Sydor was helped off the ice with whiplash after he slid face first into the end boards. New York forward John MacLean missed his fourth straight game with an eye injury.