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Philippe Hudon takes center stage as Victoriaville shocks Moncton: Friday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Philippe Hudon, Victoriaville Tigres

The Tigres shocked the QMJHL world Friday night by eliminating the Moncton Wildcats 3-2 in overtime, and Red Wings prospect Philippe Hudon was at the center of it, scoring two goals for Victoriaville.

Philippe Maillet scored the winner at :32 of overtime to drop the Wildcats to the canvas. Dmitrij Jaskin and Alex Saulnier scored for Moncton. Twin brother Allain Saulnier had two assists. Blackhawks prospect Brandon Whitney earned the win in net, making 31 saves.

Hudon also had three hits. He finished the five game set with six points, including five goals to lead the Tigres in goals.

The 11-seed Tigres dropped the sixth seed Wildcats by taking advantage of three games at home with a 2-3-2 format, sweeping the three home games after taking a split in Moncton. The Tigres were outshot in every game, but played the underdog card perfectly, keeping the Moncton shots to the outside, waiting for their chances and taking advantage of them.

Victoriaville will move on to play either the top-seed Halifax Mooseheads or the second-seed Baie-Comeau Drakkar in the next round.

No. 2 star: Sven Andrighetto, Rouyn-Noranda Huskies

Andrighetto scored a goal and added three assists to help the Huskies eliminate the pesky Drummondville Voltigeurs with a 6-4 win in Game 5 Friday.

Andrighetto helped linemate Jean-Sebastien Dea score a hat trick for the Huskies. Lightning prospect Nikita Kucherov scored twice, including the winner, and added a helper. Jérémie Malouin had two assists for the Volts, while Matt Boudens added a goal and an assist.

Andrighetto, a free agent, leads the QMJHL in playoff scoring with 12 points, including five goals, in five games.

No. 3 star: Franky Palazzese, Sudbury Wolves

Palazzese was the star in Sudbury’s 1-0 overtime win over the Brampton Battalion.

Palazzese made 35 saves to shut out the Battalion in their last game in Brampton. Defenceman Evan de Haan scored the winner at 6:23 of overtime to upset the fourth-seed Battalion.

Palazzese, eligible for the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, finished the first round with a 2.43 GAA and a save percentage of .926.

Sudbury will either play the Belleville Bulls, deadlocked at 2-2 in their first round series against the Mississauga Steelheads, or the Barrie Colts, who swept the Kingston Frontenacs.

Honorable mention: Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks

Rattie was on fire Friday, scoring a hat trick and adding two assists in a 11-4 win for the ‘Hawks over the Silvertips. The Blues prospect opened a five-goal first period for Portland, and added two more in the second.

Brandon Leipsic scored twice and added three apples for the victors, who move into a 3-1 stranglehold in the series. Tyler Wotherspoon added two goals and two assists, while Mac Carruth had the win in net. Josh Winquist scored twice for the 'Tips.

Honorable mention: Tobias Reider, Kitchener Rangers

The newest Edmonton Oiler was the star for the Rangers in their 4-2 win in Game 5 to eliminate the Guelph Storm from the OHL playoffs. He had a hand in each goal for the Rangers, scoring a goal and adding three assists to send the Storm home from the dance.

Stars first rounder Radek Faksa scored the series winner, while Josh Leivo scored a goal and added an assist for Kitchener. Brock McGinn scored twice for the Storm in the loss. John Gibson made 35 saves for the victory. The Rangers will either play London or Plymouth in the second round.

Honorable mention: Curtis Lazar, Edmonton Oil Kings

Lazar scored twice in a three-goal second period to help the top-seed Oil Kings eliminate the Kootenay Ice four games to one. They will go on to play the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL’s Eastern Conference semi-finals.

Stephane Legault scored the winner in the second period to melt the Ice. Laurent Brossoit earned the win in net, making 23 saves. Coyotes first rounder Henrik Samuelsson had two assists.

Honorable mention: Charles Hudon, Chicoutimi Sagueneens

Hudon scored twice, including the winner, to help the Sagueneens live another day in their 3-1 win over the hometown Quebec Remparts in Game 5.

The Montreal prospect scored the winner in the second period, and then scored in the empty net to silence a strong Quebec team, who outshot Chicoutimi 40-28, including 17 shots in the third period. Christopher Gibson made 39 saves in the win.

Honorable mention: Gemel Smith, Owen Sound Attack

Smith scored twice and added two helpers in Owen Sound’s 5-3 win over Sault St. Marie to take a commanding 3-2 lead in their first round series.

Dan Catenacci also scored twice, and Senators first rounder Cody Ceci added two assists for the Attack, who outshot the Greyhounds 40-27. Nick Cousins had three assists for the Greyhounds in the loss.