Growing up, every young Canadian hockey player dreams of one day playing in the National Hockey League and scoring a game-winner in overtime. Carolina Hurricanes Gear . 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. Jake Bean Jersey . Tennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley told local media in comments published Wednesday that John Tomic would not be allowed into Melbourne Park in any official capacity or as a spectator. Brett Pesce Jersey .com) - The collective hearts of Chicago Bulls fans sank on Friday night when Derrick Rose went down with a leg injury against the Cleveland Cavaliers. http://www.hurricanesauthority.com/authentic-jeff-skinner-hurricanes-jersey/ .com) - Real Madrid claimed its 20th consecutive win across all competitions by cruising to a 4-1 victory at Almeria on Friday.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies will play a decisive Game 7 Saturday night at Chesapeake Energy Arena for the right to move on in the Western Conference playoffs. "This is Game 7," Kevin Durant said. "And Im looking forward to it." Game 7 will be contested without Grizzlies All-Star forward Zach Randolph. He was suspended one game for punching Oklahoma Citys Steven Adams in the jaw in Game 6. The Thunder staved off elimination on Thursday with a 104-84 victory in Memphis at FedExForum. On the same day The Oklahoman ran a headline which read "Mr. Unreliable," Durant made the paper look foolish. Durant, who is expected to be named the NBAs MVP, scored 36 points and pulled down 10 rebounds. Durant posted 14 points in the first quarter and finished with 18 on 7-of-13 efficiency in the first half as Oklahoma City headed into the break with a healthy 56-41 advantage. The headline by The Oklahoman was in reference to Durants recent poor play in the series. He had been shooting just 40 percent in the series and 15-of-45 over the past two contests before Thursday. Durant was 11-of-23 from the floor, despite misfiring on all six of his attempts from beyond the arc, and finished 14-of-15 from the charity stripe for the second-seeded Thunder, who have not lost a first-round playoff series since 2010. Russell Westbrook provided 25 points, nine rebounds, five assists and three steals, while Reggie Jackson netted 16 points off the bench in the triumph. "That was 48 minutes of possession-by-possession defensivve mentality type- game," OKC head coach Scott Brooks said. Julien Gauthier Jersey. "Thats what we wanted to have happen going into this game. We knew we were playing in a tough place to play against a very good team. "That was the only focus for tonights game, to give your teammate everything you have and well live with the results." The Thunder are 1-0 in Game 7s since relocating to Oklahoma City. That lone victory came in 2011 when they dispatched the Grizzlies in the conference semifinals. That game was in OKC. The Grizzlies are 0-2 in Game 7s all-time with the Thunder loss and a first- round exit the following season to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Clippers loss was in Memphis, but the Grizzlies are on the road for this Game 7. Memphis has won two games in Oklahoma City this series. "Weve won there before, we believe that we can win there again," said Grizzlies coach Dave Joerger. "Obviously we need to get off to a quick start in their building for Game 7." Marc Gasol tallied 17 points and Randolph added 16 points and eight rebounds for Memphis, which can still become the second seventh seed to beat a No. 2 seed in a best-of-seven series on Saturday, joining the 2010 San Antonio Spurs, who beat the Dallas Mavericks. James Johnson scored 15 points in 18:14 of action and Tony Allen managed 13 points. Mike Conley only netted five points in less than 28 minutes. He left with a right hamstring injury in the fourth quarter and his availability for Saturday is unknown. "I play on playing," he said after Thursdays loss. 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