This just about encapsulates how this season has gone for the Dallas Stars.Near the end first period of Thursday night's game in Ottawa, Senators forward Zack Smith took a tripping penalty, allowing the Stars to pull their goalie for the extra attacker while the referee signalled a delayed penalty.As Dallas set up its breakout, Jiri Hudler circled at centre ice and blindly dropped the puck back to his defencemen but, unfortunately for Hudler, neither Stars blueliner was in position to make the play and the puck slowly and agonizingly travelled all the way to the back of their net. Senators forward Chris Kelly was credited with an even strength, empty-net goal—his fifth of the year—as he was the last Ottawa player to touch the biscuit. Hudler has two goals on the season, one more than he's scored on his own team.The weird tally turned out to be the difference as the Senators took it by a score of 3-2.When a penalty is called, the play isn't blown dead until the the penalized team gains control of the puck. This allows the team going on the powerplay to pull its goalie for an extra attacker while the play is live, as there is (usually) no risk of giving up a shot on goal. Except when you blindly fire it on your own net, of course.It's been a monumental free-fall for the Stars this season as they sit second last in the Central Division, ahead of only the tanking Colorado Avalanche. Last season, Dallas was one of only two teams to hit the 50-win mark, as it finished first place in the Western Conference with a 50-23-9 record and 109 points.A major reason for the Stars' drop off has been the inconsistent and disappointing play of their goaltending tandem, Antti Niemi and Kari Lehtonen. This is one goal, however, that can't be put of them.[TSN]
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