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Niagara IceDogs’ Brendan Perlini notches first OHL hat trick, now in scoring lead: Thursday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Brendan Perlini, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

Gee, thanks, Mr. Spoil Everyone's 2014 Draft Sleepers List. Perlini (3G-2A, +3) kept building on his torrid start to his draft season as he and Toronto Maple Leafs third-rounder Carter Verhaeghe (2G-3A, +3) factored into the first five IceDogs goals during their 7-2 evisceration of the visiting Owen Sound Attack.

Perlini now leads the OHL in scoring with 17 points in eight games, with Verhaeghe right behind with 16. The IceDogs have scored 29 goals, so these guys are carrying the show. Perlini drew assists on two goals by Verhaeghe before the match was 4½ minutes old, then scored Niagara's third goal on just its sixth shot of the night at the 10-minute mark to chase starting goalie Jack Flinn.

Stuff you can't make up: New York Islanders rookie Ryan Strome, who like Perlini came to Niagara in a trade with the Barrie Colts, also got his first OHL hat trick in the eighth game of his sophomore season. Strome only had one apple that night, but it did come in a road game.

Perlini, a promising skilled forward with size, buried two power-play goals in the second period when the 'Dogs put Owen Sound away early.

No. 2 star: Brandon Devlin, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

The 19-year-old defenceman popped the water bottle for his second of the night with 54 seconds left in overtime to vault Peterborough over the Sudbury Wolves 4-3. Devlin only scored four goals last season, but the Petes' apparent willingness to turn him loose as an auxiliary forward has put some extra juice into their attack, as he has five goals and seven points already. His game-winner, off a nice setup by Colorado Avalanche selection Michael Clarke (2A, +2), capped a simply fun-to-watch game. There were 88 recorded shots on goal, plus Los Angeles Kings selection Dominik Kubalik (2G, +1) got goals 2:55 apart in the third to help Sudbury cadge a regulation tie.

Petes overage goalie Andrew D'Agostini gave his parents an anniversary gift by stopping 40-of-43 shots. None was bigger than a right-pad breakaway save on Montreal Canadiens pick Connor Crisp 30 seconds before Devlin's decider.

For anyone who still scores at home, that was a combined five goals from two former Barrie Colts. Or four more than the current Colts scored.

No. 3 star: Brady Vail, Windsor Spitfires (OHL)

The Canadiens fourth-rounder has seven goals in as many games after potting a pair in the Spits' 4-2 doubling of the Belleville Bulls. Vail's two-way play has seldom been in question, but the onus is on the 19-year-old Floridian to score more after 52- and 55-point years as a 17- and 18-year-old. Vail (2G, +2) is delivering thus far; he scored in the first period off a setup from Columbus Blue Jackets first-rounder Kerby Rychel (1G-1A, +1) to pull Windsor level. In the middle frame, after New Jersey Devils pick Ben Johnson created a scoring opportunity, Vail drove to the net to bury the chance.

Honourable mention: Frédéric Bergeron, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

Bergeron (2G, +2) did the grunt work for the CHL's No. 1-ranked club, getting the bookend tallies during a three-goal first period that propelled B-B to a solid 4-0 road win over the Moncton Wildcats. Bergeron redirected Aaron Hoyles' point shot 5:25 into the proceedings to help quiet the crowd of 3,299, then got open in the slot later in the frame to take Samuel Hodhod's feed and bury a wrist shot. The Armada stayed in control throughout to improve to a perfect 9-0-0-0.

Potent notables — Oshawa Genenrals' Scott Laughton made it four goals in as many games since returning from the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers with a short-handed game-winner in a 2-1 road win at Barrie. Carolina Hurricanes-drafted goalie Daniel Altshuller (25 saves on 26 shots) faced down a penalty shot with 13 seconds left and a goalmouth scramble in the final seconds to get the W ... Vancouver Canucks prospect Brendan Gaunce ended his five-game goalless drought with an opening-minute marker for Belleville ... London Knights rookie Tait Seguin scored his first OHL goal ... Chicago Blackhawks-drafted goalie Brandon Whitney led Victoriaville to a 2-1 win over Gatineau.

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.