Advertisement

Penguins prospect Tristan Jarry, Leafs pick Carter Verhaeghe lead Wednesday's 3 Stars

Neate Sager
Jarry made 35 saves on Wednesday (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
Jarry made 35 saves on Wednesday (Claus Andersen/Getty Images)

No. 1 star: Tristan Jarry, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

That is called being a stopper. Jarry (35 saves) and shutdown centre Brandon Baddock spoiled Edmonton Oilers first-rounder Leon Draisaitl's return to Rexall Place by leading the Oil Kings to a 2-1 shootout verdict against the league-leading Kelowna Rockets.

The Oil Kings came in dragging a four-game losing skid, but their 19-year-old goaltender played "controlled" and refused to let the potent Rockets have an opening. Jarry, a Pittsburgh Penguins prospect, stopped 19-of-20 shots in the first 40 minutes, with Joe Gatenby getting his first WHL regular-season goal for the Rockets. The former Memorial Cup-winning goalie responded when the Rockets cranked up the pace in the third period, making 16 saves in the frame to secure the regulation tie for Edmonton. Jarry stopped 40-goal scorer Rourke Chartier five times on the night, while Baddock, a 6-foot-4 centre, took care of Draisaitl detail by limiting the No. 3 overall pick to two shots on goal.

Kelowna led the breakaway contest 1-0 after two rounds, but Brett Pollock converted against rookie goalie Jake Morrissey (30 saves) before Lane Bauer scored in the first extra round. Jarry also stymied Chartier in the last round of the breakaway contest.

No. 2 star: Carter Verhaeghe, Niagara IceDogs (OHL)

The Verhaeghe-Brendan Perlini-Cody Payne line combined for 10 points to keep the 'Dogs unbeaten in regulation in the calendar year with a 7-4 road win over the Owen Sound Attack, one of the OHL's tighter checking club. Verhaeghe (1G-3A, +2), a Toronto Maple Leafs draft choice, assisted on first-period goals by his linemates. Perlini (1G-2A, +1) struck just 1:09 into the first period, while Verhaaghe also threaded a pass into the goalmouth that led to Payne (2G-1A, +2) scoring from in tight to give Niagara its second lead of the night.

The IceDogs, who are 9-0-2-0 since Jan. 1, opened their first two-goal lead when Verhaeghe lasered a pass to Vince Dunn for a power-play goal 3:57 into the third. New York Islanders first-rounder Josh Ho-Sang bulled to the net to create another goal midway through the third period and Verhaeghe added an empty-netter, giving IceDogs overage goalie Brandon Hope a win in his return to Owen Sound.

No. 3 star: Brayden Burke, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

The 17-year-old continued to make use of his increased role with the 'Canes, notching three points during a 6-3 win against Sam Reinhart and the Kootenay Ice. Burke (1G-2A, +3), who began the season in the Red Deer Rebels system and played in only six league games before Jan. 1, began his big night with a goal 1:32 into the second that pulled Lethbridge even at 2-2.

The Edmonton native had an assist on Tyler Wong's tally that put Lethbridge ahead to stay late in the second and also assist on a Giorgio Estephan goal in the third. All told, the 5-foot-10, 155-pound Burke has 16 points over his last nine games. It's all about opportunity.

Honourable mention: Kyle Farrell, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)

Farrell (2G-1A, +3) hit the 35-goal plateau during Cape Breton's 5-1 win against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. The Eagles made the most of their 24 shots, with Farrell earning a first-period assist before scoring 3:13 into the second to open a 3-0 and chase Sags goalie Julio Billia. Farrell, an overage, also burned substitute Storm Phaneuf for an insurance goal midway through the third on a setup from defenceman Loïk Léveillé.

Potent notables — Winnipeg Jets fourth-rounder Chase De Leo (1G-1A, +3) was named first star of Portland's 4-3 win against Victoria ... Sean Montgomery, 16, scored his first WHL goal during Prince Albert's 6-1 win over Saskatoon ... In the OHL, Barrie's Kevin Labanc got his 75th point of the season and Andrew Mangiapane hit the 30-goal mark during the course of a win over Sudbury ... Los Angeles Kings third-rounder Mike Amadio (3A, +4 in North Bay's 5-1 win over Mississauga) had his sixth multi-point game of the month ... In the QMJHL, Sherbrooke's Raphaël Lafontaine (1G-1A, +2) was 18-of-21 on faceoffs during the Phoenix's 5-1 win against Drummondville,

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