Lindy Ruff sent a strong message as he watched his Dallas Stars drop their third straight.

During a 6-2 loss to the New York Rangers on Tuesday, the head coach benched his two superstars, leaving Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin to watch much of the third period.

"We really totally embarrassed ourselves," Ruff told reporters after the game.

"(Benn and Seguin) had a tough night, there's no getting around it. They had a lot of opportunities against, and by the end of the night I just didn't play them anymore."

Despite sitting second and third among all players in total points, Benn and Seguin have been held off the scoresheet over the past three games, and, as team captain, the former took full responsibility for his poor play.

Jamie Benn putting Dallas' 3rd straight loss on him. "It's myself, not leading the way. ... I played a terrible game." — Dan Rosen (@drosennhl) January 6, 2016

"It was stupid hockey, and it wasn't good enough," Benn added.

Even after the three straight losses - all on the road and played over the course of four nights - the Stars remain atop the Western Conference standings with an eight-point lead, and sit one back of the Washington Capitals for first overall.

Dallas will return home for a date with the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday, where it will be seen if Ruff's message was indeed received.