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Vladimir Tkachev’s mission to Moncton begins with 4-point night: Thursday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Vladimir Tkachev, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)

For someone who just got off a plane 24 hours ago, Tkachev made out semi-halfway decently in his debut with the 'Cats. The dazzling, diminutive Russian and his compatriot Ivan Barbashev each had four-point nights to help Moncton snap a four-game skid with a 7-4 win over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

Tkachev (2G-2A, +2), who just received his visa to play in Canada earlier this month, got his first QMJHL point in the eighth minute of the game on a goal by Barbashev (1G-3A, +2). That was just an appetizer for the main course, as Tkachev scored twice on one-timers off perfect passes from Barbashev to help Moncton build a 5-1 lead by the middle of the second period. The Sags made a run before the 18-year-old Russians capped off a memorable night at the old Coliseum by getting the helpers on Christoph Lalonde's sealer with 1:06 left.

No. 2 star: Anthony Duclair, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

A player named Anthony leads the Q with 40 goals, and he does not play for Val-d'Or. Duclair has played eight fewer games than Anthony Mantha, granted, but the New York Rangers third-rounder is having a sensational post-draft season with 40 goals over 45 games. Duclair (3G-1A, +1) was dominant in the third period when the Remparts scored five consecutive goals to pull away for a resounding 6-2 road win over the rival Gatineau Olympiques. (None of the five goals in that decisive third involved a certain Mikhail G.; no, too obvious ... M. Grigorenko.)

Duclair had eight dangerous shots on the night at Centre Robert-Guertin — where the stat crew tends to be about as generous as Monty Burns — so evidently he just didn't get hot for one period. The Remparts were still down 2-1, but an Olympiques too-many-men penalty opened the door just a crack. Duclair buried the tying goal off a setup from Tampa Bay Lightning second-rounder Adam Erne. With 7:39 left, he scored the winner with an assist from Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Fabrice Herzog.

The Olympiques took some late frustration penalties and Duclair capitalized by getting an assist and then by hitting the big four-oh in the goal column.

No. 3 star: Hunter Garlent, Peterborough Petes (OHL)

Garlent (3G-2A, +2) kept up his torrid scoring pace since swapping Guelph Storm red for Peterborough maroon. The 18-year-old, reunited with his old lacrosse buddy Nick Ritchie (1G-3A, +2), got his first OHL hat trick during the 7-4 Petes win over the Central Division-leading Sudbury Wolves. Their right wing, sophomore Eric Cornel, also earned two assists as the Petes improved to 5-1-0-0 since their big trade for Garlent. The Thorold, Ont., native already has 16 points across those six games, compared to his 39 in 37 games with Guelph.

The Garlent-Ritchie combo factored into two first-period goals as the Petes built a quick 4-1 lead. Garlent also sniped a goal 2:52 from the end of the second to restore a three-goal cushion, which loomed large in the grand scheme when Sudbury rallied to within 5-4. Peterborough's big guns also did some grunt work, playing shutdown hockey and scoring two last-minute empty-netters. Garlent's hat trick goal came with three seconds left.

The Petes have won their last three games by 7-4 scores.

Honourable mention Tyson Fawcett, Barrie Colts (OHL)

The overage Fawcett (3G-1A, +3) also had his first hat trick, leading his hometown Colts to a 7-2 romp over their interconference rival Owen Sound Attack. The 5-foot-6, 170-pound forward's second goal was his best, as he stickhandled through traffic in the high slot and snapped a shot past Attack goalie Jack Flinn. Fawcett, who's having a productive OA season with 19 goals, also scored and drew an assist when the Colts scored four times in a 7:03 stretch of the second period.

Honourable mention: Zach Bratina, North Bay Centennials Battalion

As if there was any way North Bay would lose to former North Bay while decked out in Centennials' black and gold. The Battalion thumped the Saginaw Spirit 5-1 to pull even for third place in the Eastern Conference as they made it look like it was 1994 at the Memorial Gardens. Bratina (2A, +2) was third star in the building, but his two primary assists came when North Bay broke the game open in the second period and it was his first time facing his former team. That merits some recognition.

Battalion goalie Jake Smith (28 saves) received first-star honours during the game.

Potent notables — Detroit Red Wings pick Andreas Athanasiou (2G-1A, +2) scored his 30th for Barrie ... Niagara sophomore Anthony DiFruscia got his 20th during the IceDogs win over Mississauga ... In the QMJHL, Montreal Canadiens pick Jérémy Grégoire scored with 30 seconds left in OT to give Baie-Comeau a 1-0 win over Acadie-Bathurst. Titan goalie Miguel Sullivan made 42 saves in a losing cause; Philippe Cadorette got an 18-save shutout for the league-leading Drakkar.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.