Blandisi's hat trick leads Barrie to fifth straight win: Wednesday's 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Joseph Blandisi, Barrie Colts (OHL)

The overage captain of the Colts took over the OHL lead in goals with a hat trick in the Colts’ fifth straight win, a 4-2 decision at Owen Sound.

Blandisi, who was originally a sixth-round pick of the Colorado Avalanche, became a free agent last summer after the Avs declined to sign him. Last month, he signed with the New Jersey Devils. In 13 games since signing his contract, he has nine goals and 16 points.

In Wednesday’s win, Blandisi scored a power-play goal in the first period to open the scoring, then gave the Colts a 3-0 lead 6:30 into the second. His empty-netter put the game away after the Attack, who outshot Barrie 41-29, closed within 3-2 in the third.

Draft-eligible defenceman Rasmus Andersson had another big night for Barrie with three assists, giving him nine in his last three games. Goalie Mackenzie Blackwood made 39 saves.

No. 2 star: Rinat Valiev, Kootenay Ice (WHL)

Wednesday’s game between the Ice and the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers appeared as if it would be a tight battle, as the teams were tied 1-1 at the halfway point of the second period. But then, Kootenay erupted for five goals in eight minute to bury the Tigers.

Valiev, a Russian defenceman who played in the world junior championship, scored the first goal of the onslaught, then added two more assists in the period as the Ice built a 6-1 lead through 40 minutes. Valiev has eight goals and 35 points in 36 games this season for the Ice

Medicine Hat scored twice in the third to make it a 6-3 final.

With the win, Kootenay passed Edmonton for the top wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, and the Ice would play the Tigers if the playoffs started today. Medicine Hat, however, has been slipping a bit lately and holds just a six-point lead over the Calgary Hitmen for the top spot in the Central Division. Calgary has won nine games in a row.

No. 3 star: Troy Timpano, Sudbury Wolves (OHL)

Break up the Wolves! Sudbury earned its second victory in three games after enduring an 18-game losing streak, thanks to a 41-save effort by Timpano in a 3-2 win over visiting North Bay.

Timpano, a 17-year-old from Pickering, Ontario, lost 13 straight decisions before a 4-3 win at Guelph last week. He’s faced at least 40 shots in six of his seven wins this season.

In Wednesday’s game, North Bay led 1-0 through two periods, but Sudbury got goals from Matt Schmalz, Jacob Harris and Kyle Capobianco to take a 3-1 lead. The Battalion got one back with 3:46 left in regulation, but couldn’t find an equalizer.

Potent notables: Christopher Lalonde had two goals and an assist as Shawinigan beat Cape Breton 6-2. ... Blainville-Broisbriand goalie Marc-Antoine Turcotte made 38 saves in regulation in OT and the Armada earned a 3-2 shootout win at Gatineau. ... Tyler Bertuzzi scored two goals and added a helper as Guelph scored an 6-3 road upset of Erie. Jason Dickinson also had three points (1G-2A). ... Jeremiah Addison assisted on both of Travis Konecny’s goals and scored one of his own as Ottawa beat Belleville 5-3. Michael Cramarossa had three assists for the Bulls. ... Sergey Tolchinsky had two goals and an assist in Sault Ste. Marie’s 5-2 home win over Sarnia. … Prince George goaltender Ty Edmonds stood on his head Wednesday, making 49 saves in regulation and overtime, but the Cougars fell 4-3 to Calgary in a shootout. The Hitmen outshot Prince George 52-22 in their ninth straight win. ... Jamal Watson had two goals and an assist, and Stuart Skinner stopped 38 shots for Lethbridge as the Hurricanes continued their solid February with a 6-3 victory over Moose Jaw. ... Prince Albert’s Nick McBride stopped 24 shots to lead the Raiders to a 3-0 shutout of visiting Spokane. ... Carter Popoff scored twice as Vancouver downed visiting Edmonton 3-1.