Cedar Rapids left wing Ross Colton, who is committed to the University of Vermont, scored a hat trick to lead Team East to a 6-2 victory against Team West in the 2016 United States Hockey League/NHL Top Prospects Game at Ralston Arena in Omaha, Neb., on Tuesday.

Colton, a native of Robbinsville, N.J., set a record for most goals and points (five) in the four-year history of the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game. Named the most valuable player for Team East, he certainly made the most of his opportunity in front of numerous NCAA coaches and NHL scouts in attendance.

Colton (5-foot-11, 190 pounds), who had four goals and five points in five games for the U.S. Select Team at the 2015 World Junior A Challenge, has 18 goals and 33 points in 27 games for the RoughRiders in 2015-16. He already has equaled the 18 goals and 33 points scored in 58 games in 2014-15.

Auston Matthews, who many project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is playing for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league this season. NHL.com will follow his journey leading to the NHL draft this season with a weekly update.

Auston Matthews, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft, made a memorable return to the Zurich lineup Friday when he scored two goals, had four shots on goal and was a plus-2 in a 7-0 victory against SCL.

Matthews had missed the past four games while helping the United States win the bronze medal at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship. He led the U.S. with seven goals, one shy of the U.S. record for a single WJC. He also tied for the team lead with 11 points and led all forwards with 26 shots on goal at the 11-day tournament in Helsinki, Finland.

NEWARK, N.J. -- The New Jersey Devils will have a new look against the Boston Bruins at Prudential Center on Friday (7 p.m. ET; NESN, MSG+).

Injuries prompted Devils general manager Ray Shero to recall three players from Albany of the American Hockey League, and defenseman Marc-Andre Gragnani and forwards Jim O'Brien and Paul Thompson, will be in the lineup Friday.

"It's the NHL and guys are here for a reason," Devils (20-16-5) captain Andy Greene said. "Think of how many guys from different leagues around the world would love this opportunity to come up and play in the NHL. We know these guys are ready to do it and they're excited and it's our job to make sure that they feel comfortable, that they're part of the team and ready and can step right in.

"You don't replace those regular guys. But if we all chip in a little extra that's what makes up for it."

NEWARK, N.J. -- Right wing Mike Cammalleri will miss his second straight game because of an upper-body injury when the New Jersey Devils play the Detroit Red Wings at Prudential Center on Monday (7 p.m. ET; TVA Sports, FS-D, MSG+).

Cammalleri, who did not practice Monday and is listed as day-to-day, missed his first game of the season Saturday, a 3-2 overtime win against the Dallas Stars.

Devils (20-14-5) coach John Hynes said Cammalleri was scheduled to see a doctor Monday to make certain the injury isn't serious.

Cammalleri has 14 goals and leads the Devils with 21 assists and 35 points in 38 games. He had two goals in a 3-0 win at the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday and then missed practice Friday because of a maintenance day.

"He's a significant guy in the lineup because he plays big minutes for us 5-on-5 and on the power play," Hynes said. "As a team you have to be able to fill up his minutes. It's not that you want to count on one person to do it; it's that we have to recognize the areas he will not be in the lineup and have some other guys in parts help us in his absence."

Auston Matthews, who many project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is playing for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league this season. Matthews currently is playing for the United States at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland. NHL.com will follow his journey leading to the NHL draft this season with a weekly update.

United States center Auston Matthews always has been coy about discussing what it would be like to be chosen No. 1 at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, N.Y.

His parents, Ema and Brian, are taking the same approach. NHL Network caught up with them in Helsinki, Finland, at the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship.

"I don't think we think about the draft too much because it's so far away (June 24-25)," Brian Matthews said. "We're kind of just focused right here in the moment and with USA Hockey. Whatever happens at the draft happens. We'll accept whatever comes of it."

With the way Matthews has been playing during the WJC, it wouldn't surprise anyone if he were the top pick.

NEWARK, N.J. -- Right wing Valeri Nichushkin will be out of the lineup because of a lower-body injury for the Dallas Stars against the New Jersey Devils on Saturday at Prudential Center (7 p.m. ET; FS-SW+, MSG+).

Nichushkin sustained his injury late in the second period of a 5-1 victory against the Nashville Predators on Thursday and did not return to the game. The 20-year-old practiced Friday and Saturday but coach Lindy Ruff thought it best to sit him for the first of a back-to-back set this weekend.

"He was doing a lot better [Saturday] and we'll see where he's at [Sunday at the New York Islanders]," Ruff said. "The smart thing is to keep him off."

Nichushkin, who has four goals, 13 points and 57 shots on goal in 37 games, will be replaced in the lineup by Radek Faksa. Faksa, who appeared in 14 NHL games earlier in the season, was recalled from Texas of the American Hockey League on Wednesday. His last game with the Stars was Nov. 14 in a 3-2 win against the Minnesota Wild. Faksa has one goal and two points with the Stars.

NEWARK, N.J. -- New Jersey Devils coach John Hynes hopes to see more offensive accountability Tuesday against the Carolina Hurricanes at Prudential Center.

Hynes isn't satisfied with the fact the Devils have not won two straight games since Nov. 12 and Nov. 14. The Devils are 7-8-4 since their last back-to-back victories.

As a result, Hynes will not only juggle his offensive lines, but his defense pairs.

"When there's an opportunity to make a play and you have time and space, we want to be able to make plays and not just get rid of the puck," Hynes said. "When you're in scoring situations and scoring areas the decision is that there is a shot versus a pass.

"The game is transitional so if you're just going to be a player that's going to defend harder than you play offense, there needs to be more accountability to produce offense and play in the offensive zone to be a threatening team."

Auston Matthews, who many project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is playing for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league this season. Matthews is currently playing for the U.S. national junior team in the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship in Helsinki, Finland. NHL.com will follow his journey leading to the NHL Draft this season with a weekly update.

Auston Matthews is certainly no stranger to representing the United States in pressure-packed international events and Saturday was no exception against rival Canada to open the 2016 IIHF World Junior Championship at Helsinki Ice Hall.

Matthews, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list for the 2016 NHL Draft, had a goal, two points, a plus-1 rating and led his team with three shots on goal in a 4-2 victory against Canada. The United States will play Sweden on Monday in the second of four preliminary round matches before the playoff round.

"It was a really intense game, really back and forth and I thought everyone was competing hard and we were able to capitalize on some big chances," Matthews told USAHockey.com. "Getting Canada right off the bat, we needed to be ready. I think everybody played well. We were up for the challenge. It was a good win."

Center Tyson Jost, an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's November players to watch list, was named Most Valuable Player after leading Canada West to a 2-1 victory against Russia in the gold medal game of the 2015 World Junior A Challenge at the Cobourg Community Centre in Ontario on Saturday.

Jost (5-foot-11, 191 pounds), who is committed to the University of North Dakota in 2016-17, scored the decisive goal in the championship game and led the tournament in scoring with three goals and nine points in four games.

In his second season with the Penticton Vees in the British Columbia Hockey League, Jost has 24 goals and 61 points in 30 games. His Canadian Hockey League rights are held by the Everett Silvertips in the Western Hockey League.

Auston Matthews, who many project to be the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft, is playing for Zurich in Switzerland's top professional league this season. NHL.com will follow his journey leading to the NHL Draft this season with a weekly update.

Longtime NHL scout Bob Crocker, who won the 2015 Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the United States on Dec. 17, considers Auston Matthews a slam dunk as the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Crocker would know. He won three Stanley Cup titles while scouting for the New York Rangers and Los Angeles Kings. He also helped Boston University to two NCAA championships as a key recruiter.

In Matthews, Crocker sees a player possessing several positive qualities. Matthews is currently with the United States national junior select camp in Finland where he is preparing for the IIHF 2016 World Junior Championship to begin Dec. 26.

"I saw Matthews last year and off of those performances, I don't see how he can't be No. 1," Crocker said. "I think he has it all. He has the size, the height and can skate like mad. He's got great hands and vision and hockey sense. He competes like a bugger, is strong, and I look for him to be the No. 1 pick."

"The consensus is that his going to Switzerland to play and play the way he has this year, that he will be No. 1 because he's having a great year."