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Leafs pick Antoine Bibeau keeps Anthony Mantha off scoresheet: Thursday’s 3 Stars

Neate Sager

No. 1 star: Antoine Bibeau, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

Two weeks ago, Bibeau lasted only a period and change when the Val-d'Or Foreurs pumped his Islanders for nine goals in their first regulation loss. The Toronto Maple Leafs sixth-rounder made sure revenge was a dish best served with a side of P.E.I.-grown potatoes as Charlottetown pulled away for a 7-1 home win.

The 19-year-old goalie made 48 saves, including 19 in the second period to maintain a one-goal Islanders lead. Charlottetown, led by two goals from their first-rounder Daniel Sprong — who's sniped six goals already this month — blew it open with four in fewer than five minutes early in the final frame. The Islanders' checkers also did a job on Quebec League scoring leader Anthony Mantha. The Detroit Red Wings first-rounder was minus-2 with one shot on goal after having 28 points (and 63 shots) in his first nine games. That would help account for defenceman Ryan Graves (1A, +1) representing Charlottetown's defence corps in the three stars selection in the building.

No. 2 star: Nikita Korostelev, Sarnia Sting (OHL)

The Sting's bright young hope got his first two junior goals, including the icebreaker in a rousing 6-3 win over the Saginaw Spirit. Korostelev (2G, +1), a Moscow native by way of the Greater Toronto Hockey League who's been generating chances in nearly every game he's played, had a great night working with countryman Vladislav Kodola (1A, +2) and Davis Brown (+2). The 16-year-old also put the Sting ahead to stay with a 5-on-3 power-play goal late in the second period after some great trigger work by draft-year defenceman Anthony DeAngelo (1G-3A, +2).

Sarnia sophomore Nikolay Goldobin also enjoyed a two-goal night.

No. 3 star: Greg Chase, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

The Edmonton Oilers draft choice factored into all of Calgary's scoring in a 4-3 shootout win over the striving Saskatoon Blades. Chase (1G-2A, +2, and the shootout winner) and Brady Brassart (1G-2A, +1) largely carried the Hitmen offence. Chase scored his 10th goal on a power play in the second period, then helped stake Calgary to a two-goal lead by assisting on a 4-on-4 tally and by getting a primary apple on Brassart's 3-1 goal.

After Saskatoon battled back, Chase got the only conversion in the shootout, as Hitmen goalie Mack Shields augmented his 32-save night by stopping all three Blades attempts. Moscow native Nikita Scherbak scored two goals for Saskatoon, which is on a seven-game point streak.

Honourable mention: Matt Murray, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds (OHL)

The Pittsburgh Penguins-signed goalie authored his second consecutive shutout with 33 saves in a 1-0 road win over the Barrie Colts. Murray and the 'Hounds played an ideal road game, making 16-year-old Blake Speers' early tally stand up as they upped their record to 7-1-0-1, good for a share of first overall. (Only two of the Soo's games have been within the Western Conference.)

The 19-year-old Murray was a profile in poise, as Edmonton Oilers prospect Darnell Nurse and veteran Alex Gudbranson helped bottle up Barrie's struggling attack.

Honourable mentions: Anthony DiFruscia and Carter Verhaeghe, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

The IceDogs broke up their big line to spread out their offence and lo and behold, 18-year-olds DiFruscia (3G, +2) and Verhaeghe (2G-2A, +2) and 17-year-old Brendan Perlini (3A, +2) had their way with the defensively depleted Ottawa 67's, combining for 10 points in a 7-4 rout. DiFruscia came into the night with only one goal to his credit, but sniped a hat trick within a 10-minute span of the second period. Verhaeghe scored two first-period goals, including a beauty late in the first when he blew by defenceman Jake Middleton and cut in on his off wing to stuff the puck in the net.

Potent notables — Saginaw Spirit first-rounder Mitchell Stephens sniped his first OHL goal ... Seventeen-year-old goalie Alex Nedeljkovic stopped 33-of-35 shots in Plymouth's 3-2 OT win at North Bay, with overage Carter Sandlak roofing the decider ...Winnipeg Jets selection Scott Kosmachuk scored the third-period winner in Guelph's win at Windsor. Carolina Hurricanes second-rounder Brock McGinn also got his eighth goal in 10 games ... Another 2012 'Canes pick, Trevor Carrick scored his seventh of the season for Mississauga ... The Ottawa 67's Nevin Guy had his first two-goal, three-point night and was not in minus during his team's 7-4 loss at Niagara ... In the QMJHL, Liam O'Brien (2G, +1) was first star in Rouyn-Noranda's 7-4 road win over Cape Breton.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.