Thursday’s 3 Stars: Gavrus gets his groove back for the Attack

No. 1 star: Artur Gavrus, Owen Sound Attack (OHL)

Gavrus had his best game since rejoining the Attack after missing two months due to a concussion sustained after being checked by London's Max Domi. The 18-year-old Belarusian scored two goals, including the game-winner as the Attack beat the Brampton Battalion 4-2 to complete back-to-back road wins. His contributions were vital, considering the Attack were coming off a tight turnaround after playing an overtime game on Wednesday and spent much of the game on the defensive, getting outshot 47-22. St. Louis Blues draft pick Jordan Binnington was sharp in goal with 45 saves for Owen Sound.

Gavrus brokje the seal on a game that was scoreless deep into the second period by taking a Gemel Smith feed and potting a goal off his own rebound in the second period. In the third, Gavrus he some great anticipation and deft hands on the eventual game-winner. As teammate Chris Bigras teed up a point shot, Gavrus anticipated the ricochet off the end boards and cut across the goalmouth before Brampton's Dylan Blujus could reroute him, then backhanded the puck past Battalion goalie Keegan Wilson for a 3-1 lead that stood.

No. 2 star: Seth Griffith, London Knights (OHL)

Say hello to the new goal scoring leader in the Ontario league. Griffith, who's undrafted, had a natural hat trick in London's 5-0 romp at Windsor. He showed off a laser-pinpoint wrist shot, particularly on his first goal when he patiently trailed the play and created a slew of open ice for himself before rookie Bo Horvat slid the puck to him from the left-wing corner. The three goals gave Griffth, who hasn't missed a game in the past two seasons, 39 on the season, one ahead of Ottawa's Tyler Toffoli.

Knights goalie Michael Houser earned his 84th career win, matching Gene Chiarello's club record. Pittsburgh Penguins signed draft pick Scott Harrington was plus-2 for London in his first game since injuring his shoulder in the world junior championship.

No. 3 star: Jérémy Grégoire, Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)

Grégoire's first career two-goal night in the Sags' 4-2 win over the rival Baie-Comeau Drakkar might have been a microcosm of Chicoutimi's charmed season. They weren't picked to do a lot in the preseason prognostications, but they have enough balanced strength to rise up and pick off contending teams. Grégoire, a promising first-round pick who's already a solid 6-foot, 191 pounds even though he will not turn 17 until the dawn of next season, was up to skating with the Sags' older players. Both of his goals opened two-goal leads, with the first coming off a setup from Christian Ouullet and the second off a feed from Ottawa Senators prospect Jean-Gabriel Pageau.

Honourable mention: Andrew D'Agostini, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

The winning goalies in the other four OHL games allowed all of four goals. Yet D'Agostini, who allowed four himself, was the only 'tender chosen as the first star of his game. The 18-year-old was money for the Petes with 42 saves in their emotional 5-4 overtime win over the conference-leading Ottawa 67's, playing with swagger and allowing almost no rebound opportunities. The Petes, wearing special gold jerseys as part of a fundraiser for children's cancer research, seemed inspired by the occasion and Ottawa did well to get four goals. Lino Martschini's OT winner was the third lead change of the game.

Honourable mention: Jamie Oleksiak, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

The IceDogs celebrated star centre Ryan Strome's return from facial surgery with an 11-0 mauling of the Mississauga-St. Michael's Majors. Oleksiak, the Dallas Stars first-rounder, scored his first goal since coming over in a trade with the Saginaw Spirit, chipped in three assists and also finished plus-7. The game was over by the 10-minute mark of the first period, but still, plus-7? The laugher of a win moved the IceDogs within a point of the OHL Eastern Conference lead.

Potent notables — Strome (2G-2A), San Jose Sharks prospect Freddie Hamilton (1G-2A), Vancouver Canucks prospect Alex Friesen (2G-3A) and Dallas Stars second-rounder Brett Ritchie (1G-1A) also had multi-point nights for Niagara. Mark Visentin made 18 saves for his league-leading eighth shutout ... In the QMJHL ... New Jersey Devils draft pick Reid Boucher got his 23rd goal and the shootout winner in Sarnia's 3-2 victory at Barrie. The Sting won both games during top NHL draft prospect's suspension. Buffalo Sabres pick Gregg Sutch marked his 20th birthday by scoring Barrie's overtime-forcing goal ... In the QMJHL, Marek Hrivik and Allain Saulnier each had three points in Moncton's 4-1 win at Rouyn-Noranda ... Raphael Lafontaine's two goals helped Gatineau edge Cape Breton.

(Game recaps available on the news page.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (photo: OHL Images).