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Auston Matthews taking over the rookie scoring lead with a two-goal performance at the Centennial Classic gave the NHL all the evidence it needed, as the Toronto Maple Leafs rookie was named the NHL’s first star of the week on Monday.
The 19-year-old center scored four goals and two assists in three victories over Florida, Tampa Bay and Detroit, helping Toronto close to within three points of third place in the Atlantic Division and an Eastern Conference wild card spot.
Auston Matthews OT winner at the Centennial Classic. His second goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/YEA3Rj7ceM
— Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) January 1, 2017
Matthews scored the opening goals in wins in the Sunshine State last week and tallied his 20th goal for the overtime winner on Sunday that moved the top pick past Winnipeg’s Patrik Laine into the lead for goals scored and points by a rookie.
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Maple Leafs prospects continue to shine at the 2017 IIHF World Junior Tournament. Goaltender Joseph Woll (3rd round – 2016) registered his second victory with a 25-save performance in a 3-1 win over Team Canada on Saturday.
In Monday’s quarterfinals, 2016 second rounder Carl Grundstrom scored a goal in Team Sweden’s 8-3 romp over Slovakia. The 19-year-old winger has two goals and four assists in five games for the Swedes, who will take on Team Canada in Montreal on Wednesday.
#WJC: LW Carl Grundstrom (TOR) wires one home to make it 3-0 Sweden. Surprised at how easy it's been for him to bury most of his chances. pic.twitter.com/HSriFWeQYf
— Steve Kournianos (@TheDraftAnalyst) January 2, 2017
2015 second rounder Jeremy Bracco was a key contributor in Team USA’s 3-2 win over Switzerland at Air Canada Center on Monday afternoon.
The Long Island native opened the scoring on the power play in the first period and assisted on Luke Kunin’s goal. The 19-year-old has three goals and one assist in five games.
Jeremy Bracco buries a beautiful pass to give USA the lead. #WorldJuniors @CanadianTire #BigPlay https://t.co/JLvAqi0ZFz pic.twitter.com/TTvpjrtKk5
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) January 2, 2017
Team USA will play Russia in the semi-final on Wednesday.
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The Leafs demoted center Byron Froese to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and assigned defenseman Frank Corrado to their AHL affiliate on a two-week conditioning stint. The 25-year-old Froese was sent down because Tyler Bozak has returned to the lineup and so that rookie Frederik Gauthier can get an extended look until veteran Ben Smith returned from a hand injury.
Corrado has played in just one of the Leafs 36 games this season and openly expressed frustration at not getting more of an opportunity from head coach Mike Babcock.
The 23-year-old defenseman could play as many as seven times in the next two weeks (beginning with back-to-back road games in Winnipeg against the Manitoba Moose on Tuesday), giving Corrado the chance to shake off the cobwebs and NHL scouts an opportunity to see him play.
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