Saturday’s 3 Stars: Newcomer Fox seals rare win for Otters

No. 1 star: Dane Fox, Erie Otters (OHL)

It's been a rough year for the Otters, so it's nice to be able to take the opportunity to point out a big performance in a rare win. Fox, who came over from London in the big trade that sent Greg McKegg to the Knights, scored three times as Erie won in Sudbury 7-4 to end a 12-game losing streak.

Fox, an 18-year-old centre, has seven goals and 10 points in nine games with Erie after posting 32 points in 34 games with the Knights. He's clearly trying to make the most of a tough situation, as he went from the best team in the league to the worst.

Until Saturday, the Otters hadn't won a game in 2012, and in fact last tasted victory back on December 17. It wasn't easy for Erie in Sudbury, as they built a 4-0 lead and watched the Wolves whittle it down to 5-4 in the third period. But 16-year-old rookie Stephen Harper scored his second of the game on the power play to rebuild a two-goal advantage, and Fox sealed the win with an empty-netter for the hat trick.

At 6-37-3-1, Erie is still 31 points out of a playoff spot.

No. 2 star: Gabriel Desjardin, Quebec Remparts (QMJHL)

This really could've gone to any number of Remparts on Saturday night, as Quebec absolutely hammered the Gatineau Olympiques 12-1 in front of a season-high crowd of 14,665 at Colisée Pepsi.

But Desjardins, playing in his seventh game with Quebec since coming over in a trade from Halifax, stood out the most with three goals and an assist. The 19-year-old scored twice in a six-goal first period, and completed his hat trick 58 seconds into the second frame with a shorthanded tally. He scored on the only three shots he put on goal.

All in all, 14 of the 18 skaters dressed by the Remparts hit the scoresheet, with 10 picking up multiple points. All this came despite Quebec registering just 32 shots on goal.

Gatineau goaltender François Lacerte needs a hug after this one. He was yanked after giving up four goals in the first 13:03, but backup Alexandre Michaud didn't fare much better. Lacerte came back to play the last two periods, surrendering 10 goals while making only 16 saves.

Astonishingly, the Remparts have now scored 12 goals three times in the last two seasons. They beat Lewiston 12-3 on September 17, 2010, and followed it up with a 12-2 win over Rouyn-Noranda a week later, both at the Colisée. No other team in the Q has scored as many goals in a game in that span.

No. 3 star: Dany Potvin, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles (QMJHL)

Potvin got in a fight in the first period, then scored three times in the third period -- including the game-winner with 31 seconds remaining in regulation -- to rally the Screaming Eagles to a 5-4 win over Acadie-Bathurst.

The Titan led 3-1 through two periods, but Cory MacIntosh and Potvin each scored early in the third to tie the game. Acadie-Bathurst reclaimed the lead at 11:19 of the period, but Potvin took over from there, knotting the game up again at the 14:44 mark before notching his winner in the waning moments.

Zach O'Brien scored his CHL-leading 45th goal of the season in the first period for Acadie-Bathurst.

First honourable mention: Max Domi, London Knights (OHL)

The Knights scored five straight goals over a 13-minute span in the second and third periods to come back for a 6-3 win over Saginaw. Domi scored once in each period, collecting his first hat trick since opening night.

The Spirit led 3-1 midway through the game, but Domi touched off the rally with a goal at 12:42 of the second period and capped it off with his third of the night at 5:42 of the final frame.

Jared Knight picked up four assists, including his 100th career helper, and Greg McKegg added three assists of his own for London,

Second honourable mention: Josh Nicholls, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Nicholls scored twice in three minutes in the second period and added an assist in the Blades' 8-1 thrashing of Regina in an important battle for playoff positioning. Saskatoon came in with a one-point lead over the Pats for the sixth spot in the tight Eastern Conference, and sent a message to their rivals.

Nicholls hadn't scored in three previous games since returning from a six-week absence to to injury. His return has boosted the Blades, who have won eight of 10 and sit just three points behind third-place Medicine Hat.

Third honourable mention: Justin Kirsch, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

A 19-year-old in his third WHL season, Kirsch set a new career-high with four points Saturday -- and all of them came in the same period.

Kirsch scored and set up three more goals in a dominant second frame as the Warriors beat Swift Current 5-2. Moose Jaw outshot the Broncos 15-1 in the period and turned a 1-1 tie into a 5-1 lead through 40 minutes.

The Warriors are second in the Eastern Conference, and closed to within four points of first-place Edmonton with Saturday's win.

Scott Sepich is a WHL contributor to Buzzing the Net. Follow him on Twitter @SSepichWHL. (photo: Erie Otters)