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Andre Burakovsky helps Erie win Ekblad-McDavid showdown: Thursday’s 3 Stars

Neate Sager

No. 1 star: André Burakovsky, Erie Otters (OHL)

Forget about who's the best '96 or '97; Erie's No. 95 was the first star during the Otters' riveting 6-5 win over the Barrie Colts in a much anticipated tilt that included two teen sensations, Aaron Ekblad and Connor McDavid. One might remember them from the world junior championship.

Burakovsky (4A, +2), playing in his first game since returning from the world junior championship, helped the OHL-leading Otters prevail despite an inspired Colts effort. The 18-year-old Washington Capitals first-rounder put a pass right on the tape for defenceman Travis Dermott to score the winning goal with 12:20 to play. Burakovsky also set up a beauty goal by McDavid (1G-1A, +1) early in the second period and had assists on two goals by veteran Michael Curtis, including a short-hander.

Ekblad (1A, -2) had a strong night, helping the Colts battle back from a three-goal deficit to notch a moral victory. Barrie forced Erie coach Kris Knoblauch to make a mid-game goalie switch to Oscar Dansk, who stopped 19-of-20 shots and caught a break when Andreas Athanasiou whistled a point-blank attempt just wide in the final minute.

No. 2 star: Travis Konecny, Ottawa 67's

The 67's beacon of hope returned from his turn as captain of Team Ontario at the world under-17 challenge to find out his centre, Joseph Blandisi, had been replaced by Erik Bradford following a trade with Barrie. No problem. The troika of Konecny (2G-2A, +4), Bradford (1G-2A, +2) and Ryan Van Stralen (1G-3A, +3) promptly combined for 11 points to help the young 67's trounce the Windsor Spitfires 8-3 and move back into a playoff position.

Konecny pulled Ottawa out of an early deficit with a goal where he blocked a point shot by Patrick Sanvido, recovered the puck for a breakaway and wiring a shot by Alex Fotinos. Konency took a low, rebound-generating shot that Bradford banged into the net for a backbreaking goal in the last minute of the second. In the third, Konecny scored again and then set up Connor Graham's first OHL goal, completing his first four-point game as a junior.

No. 3 star: Jake Marchment, Belleville Bulls (OHL)

The baby Bulls, 5-4 victors at Peterborough, got all of their goals from players 18 or younger to give backup goalie Jason Da Silva (32 saves) his first win since Sept. 28. Marchment (2G-1A, +2), an 18-year-old first-year player from Courtice, Ont., scored the icebreaker 97 seconds into the contest to help spark Belleville to a 4-1 lead. He also tucked in a rebound with 1:05 left in the first period and set up Chad Heffernan's second-period marker.

The Petes scored three quickies in the third to pull even, but 17-year-old David Tomasek (2G, -1) scored the decider with 1:55 remaining.

Honourable mention: Anthony DeLuca, Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

The undrafted 18-year-old hit the 30-goal and 60-point milestone whilst leading Rimouski to a 5-0 cakewalk over Saint John. (Pro tip: don't get the word cakewalk stuck in your head). The 5-foot-8, 198-pound DeLuca (2G-2A, +3) got an assist in the opening minute to help Rimouski put the lowly Sea Dogs back on their heels, then set up the 3-0 goal midway through the second before notching the game's final two salvos.

DeLuca's night moved him into fourth in points in the Q with 65, behind Anthony Mantha, Anthony Duclair and Marcus Power, who might soon be ordered to change his name.

Honourable mention: Mathew Santos, North Bay Battalion (OHL)

Santos (1A, +1) had a yeoman effort during North Bay's 4-1 win over division rival Mississauga. Santos floored Mississauga's Bryson Cianfrone with a big open-ice check and also selflessly slid the puck to Jamie Lewis for the empty-net clincher.

Potent notables — Vancouver Canucks prospect Dane Fox scored his 47th goal in 41 games for Erie. His linemate, Toronto Maple Leafs pick Connor Brown, scored his 25th on a pass from Fox ... Niagara sophomore Brendan Perlini scored his ninth goal in nine games to reach the 25 plateau during the IceDogs' home loss to Guelph ... In the QMJHL, Mantha got his 75th point (in 33 games) by scoring twice in a Val-d'Or Foreurs win ... Anthony Gingras scored with one second left in OT to lift Acadie-Bathurst over Shawinigan.

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 (videos: Rogers Television, TV Cogeco Ontario).