HOCKEY LAST NIGHT: LEAFS CLIP 'CANES

Apparently, you just run for an extended period....

Leafs 4 Hurricanes 1: In 3, 2, 1... and we Leafs fans are back to our insufferable selves for the next couple days unless they fall on their asses big-time tonight at MSG vs. the Rangers (which ain't happenin', by the way). Nik Antropov, no doubt inspired by his countrymen's 52-1 rout of Thailand at the Asian Games, scored twice, and 'Canes goalie Cam Ward probably did pretty well to keep the Leafs to four goals. It's only going to get harder from here, but the Leafs are 5-2 on an eight-game stretch where we said they needed to win at least six.

Senators 3 Capitals 2: Sorry, folks, tonight we are totally bourqued when it comes to making snarky comments about the franchise formerly known as Mud. Nice win, Martin Gerber played half-decently, Jason Spezza scored... yawn.

Sabres 7 Bruins 1: Anyone shocked to see this score... anyone? Buffalo snapped out of its funk... now, if only they could play the Bruins every other game until April.

Flames 4 Kings 1: Craig Conroy gets two for his new/old team against his old team, and there's a chance he could play in 85 games this season. Can't you feel the excitement?

Sharks 3 Stars 2 (overtime): Ouch for San Jose and Mike Ribeiro's goal jump-starts a Dallas comeback and Philippe Boucher ties with with 2.2 seconds left.

NHL Scoreboard

Rant: Did anyone notice that James Mirtle had a blog entry yesterday -- the latest of several -- on Gare Joyce's superb book When The Lights Went Out and then Sportsnet's Jim Lang just happened to have a post on the same book hours later? The book explores the infamous 1987 Piestany Punch-Up, whose 20th anniversary was four weeks ago tomorrow, yet Lang talks about it as if the book hasn't even hit the stores yet.

What's his next blog post going to be on? This new baseball book, Moneyball? (Or should that be Ball Four?) This hot new band, the White Stripes? Or the "best new comedy on TV, Arrested Development."

Headlines: Stevie Y to serve as GM for Team Canada at '07 Worlds; MPs applaud Ken Dryden (but don't worry, they timed the ovation with a stopwatch to make sure it didn't take too long, lest anyone feel put out); AAA minor hockey is coming to Ottawa/Kingston;

Today's better games: Leafs-Rangers, 7:30; Coyotes-Ducks, 10; Blue Jackets-Oilers, 10 (the return of Ty Conklin?).

HOMETOWN BREAKDOWN

Of all the Gump Worsley tributes we've read, Kingston Whig-Standard sportswriter Pat Kennedy's retrospective on the Hall of Famer's stint as a Kingston Frontenacs goaltending coach is one of the best.

Previous: Goodbye Gumper (Jan. 28)

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.