Seems it wasn't that long ago that Scott Gomez of Anchorage was tearing it up for East High and the Alaska All Stars, but lo and behold the NHL "veteran'' center turns 28 Sunday.

Gomez leads the New York Rangers in assists and points with 8-22--30 totals and a +4 rating in 35 games entering Sunday's match against the visiting Ottawa Senators. He carries an eight-game points streak (3-8--11) into the game.

Birthday games haven't been especially wonderful for Gomez as a NHL skater -- his New Jersey Devils teams (he signed with the Rangers as a free agent in July) went 1-3-1 on his birthdays. (The tie came before the NHL instituted the shootout system and got rid of ties). And, no, the Alaska Aces didn't have a game on Scott's birthday (Dec. 23) when he played for them in 2004, during the NHL lockout.

In those five NHL games he has played on his birthday, Gomez accumulated 1-2--3 totals and two penalty minutes. (See, the blog occasionally gets off his can and provides exhaustive research for you puckheads).