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Growing up, every young Canadian hockey player dreams of one day playing in the National Hockey League and scoring a game-winner in overtime. And just days away from his 25th birthday, Kitchener, Ontarios Mike Hoffman is living that dream. And in Game 42 of his NHL career on Thursday night, Hoffman delivered the decisive blow 2:39 into OT in a 4-3 Ottawa Senators win over the Edmonton Oilers, ending the night in chilly Edmonton the way it started - with Hoffmans first of two in the game to spark the Sens to a much-needed victory. It was the second two-goal game of the year for Hoffman, who according to Elias, is just one of two rookies in the NHL with a pair of multi-goal games (LAs Tanner Pearson - another Kitchener native - being the other). Pearson and Hoffman share another piece of history - one that isnt that kind to their hometown OHL team the Kitchener Rangers. Their crystal ball must have been cloudy when deciding that neither Pearson, Hoffman, nor Winnipegs Mark Scheifele (another Kitchener kid who slipped past many in the 2009 OHL Draft before being claimed by Saginaw in the seventh round, 134th overall) had good OHL upside. Just a year earlier, the Barrie Colts took a chance on Pearson - a former Rangers stick boy - and selected him in the 14th round. Hoffman wasnt drafted by an OHL team and was considered a Kitchener call-up during the 2006-2007 season before finally getting waived by the league. That freed him to jump to the QMJHL, where his game started to take shape. He was guided with quality coaching from Gatineaus Benoit Groulx, Drummondvilles Guy Boucher and Saint Johns Gerard Gallant during his time in the Q, which included being named the leagues most valuable player as a 20- year-old and finished his junior career as the Sea Dogs top scorer in 2009-2010. Gallant, now head coach of the Florida Panthers, tells The Dreger Report he isnt surprised by Hoffmans NHL success. He could always shoot and score, he explained. He just had to feel comfortable in the league and like most players, playing in the minors never hurts. As they say, stuff happens and the OHLs Rangers - like so many other major junior teams - are careful with local kids, recognizing sometimes its best to pass them over rather than potentially burn relationships if things dont work out. But it appears to be working out for all three players. With six goals in his last five NHL games, Hoffman is making the most of an opportunity and isnt worrying about days gone by. Hes described as strong and wiry with explosive speed, a high level of skill and a dangerous one-timer. And thats part of the reason hes getting a role on Ottawas second power play unit. Like all inexperienced players, Hoffman has flaws. The scouting report says he can get too cute at times, trying to make plays with his hands rather than his speed and there was a point not long ago when Sens brass had serious conversations over whether or not he had a long-term place in the organization. The one question that was repeatedly asked: Can he do it at the NHL level? And 13 games into the season, Hoffmans seven goals, eight points and undeniable chemistry with Mark Stone and Curtis Lazar on Ottawas Kid Line may make it time to stop asking that question. Methot On The Mend Staying on the topic of the Senators, Ottawa defenceman Marc Methot appears to be getting closer to returning to play. Methot, who has been plagued by back and hip problems, saw a specialist last week who confirmed his injury is soft-tissue based. Thats Good news. Early next week, the Senators are hoping to have a better sense as to when the veteran blueliner will be healthy enough to return. Meanwhile, theres been no progress made on his contract negotiations with the Senators - and virtually no discussions over the past three weeks - which continues to fuel trade speculation. The Anaheim Ducks, Detroit Red Wings, Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers are believed to be among the teams interested. GM Meeting Next Week NHL general managers will meet on Tuesday in Toronto, traditionally setting up the March meetings where the executives decide on rule changes or amendments. While NHL executive vice-president and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell is closely guarding the meetings agenda, the laundry list of items - and early season observations - will most certainly include a lengthy debate on overtime. Based on the success of 3-on-3 in the American Hockey League and the growing number of believers outside of the NHL Commissioners office, GMs are confident the leagues current overtime format - as compared to the AHL experiment - will be a primary focus next week. While the shootout is still considered a valued piece of entertainment, some of the leagues decision makers say its lost its novelty and think its unfair to dismiss 3-on-3 until its been tested at the NHL level. While no decisions are expected to emerge from Tuesdays meeting, it will be interesting to get a read on how views have changed on 3-on-3 given the evidence supplied by the AHL. Look for a complete breakdown on Tuesday during Insider Trading on SportsCentre and on TSN.ca. Air Max 720 Canada Cheap . The Bulls seem to be getting along fine without him. D.J. Augustin scored 27 points in a start for Kirk Hinrich and Taj Gibson matched a career high with 26 filling in for Carlos Boozer as the Bulls improved to 7-2 since trading the popular Deng with a 98-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday night. Air Max 720 Sale . The Rays hope to stay alive for the postseason and salvage the finale of this series Sunday at Rogers Centre, where they dropped a 7-2 decision Saturday. Chris Archer lasted 2 1/3 innings in the no-decision, charged with a run and five hits, and Alex Torres suffered the loss in relief. http://www.airmax720outletcanada.com/. Tensions rose in the first period when Penguins defenceman Brooks Orpik hit Bruins forward Loui Eriksson with what appeared to be a clean hit. Wholesale Air Max 720 . And, just for good measure, lets say the lottery team finishes the game short-handed because two starters come down with the very same injury. Air Max 720 Canada Sale .C. -- Tony Stewart will not race Saturday night at Bristol Motor Speedway, the third Sprint Cup race hes skipped since his car struck and killed Kevin Ward Jr.ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- New Mexicos strategy was simple against No. 6 San Diego State: Get the ball to Cameron Bairstow. Bairstow scored 26 points on a series of jumpers, dunks and layups to lead the Lobos to a 58-44 victory over the Aztecs on Saturday night. "I said it before and I said it on national TV, Ive got the best power forward in the country playing for us in Cam Bairstow," New Mexico coach Craig Neal said. After failing to score above 20 points before this season, the senior Bairstow topped 20 for the 16th time this campaign. "Bairstow had his way," Aztecs coach Steve Fisher said. "Hes 11 for 18, 26 points. Hes good. Im up trying to beg for a call. Swimming in the post, swimming in the post. And I couldve gone swimming myself. He was just getting the ball and scoring with it." San Diego State (23-3, 12-2 Mountain West) entered the game hoping to deny Bairstow the ball. The strategy was unsuccessful. "We were just trying not to let him catch it deep," Aztecs forward J.J. OBrien said. "Not give him easy buckets. He likes to duck in, use his strength and get easy buckets. We were going to try and keep him out of the paint as well as we could." However, Bairstow had his way all game, scoring 10 in the first half then leading a second-half charge that stymied San Dieggo State.dddddddddddd After the Aztecs opened the second half with a basket, New Mexico (21-5, 12-2) hammered out a 21-2 run over a span of almost 9 minutes to take a 50-26 lead. Bairstow started the run with two baskets, and ended up with 10 in the surge. "I just felt good with it," Bairstow said in explaining his success. "Looking at the scoreboard, I couldnt believe we were up 20. Obviously I was expecting a lot closer game." It was a game that the Lobos were determined to have, he said. "We knew what was on the line and what the game meant to us," Bairstow said. "We wanted to get out to a quick start and we managed to do that. Its not like this is a signature win thats going to win the conference. But it is one which puts us even with San Diego State." Neal credited the teams defensive effort, particularly on Aztecs leading scorer Xavier Thames, who averages 17 but shot 3 of 15 and finished with seven points. Winston Shepard led San Diego States effort with 10 points. "I thought the difference was our defence," Neal said. "We wanted to give them space. We wanted them to make jump shots over us. We no-helped Thames. So if he was on ballside or anywhere by the ball, we didnt want him to get it back. So I thought that was a big key to our game." ' ' '