Baie-Comeau Drakkar’s Philippe Cadorette makes 61 saves: Friday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 Star: Philippe Cadorette, Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)

Cadorette single-handedly put Drakkar up 1-0 over the Val-d’Or Foreurs in their second-round series. He turned aside 61 shots while his team put 33 pucks on net at the other end of the ice in a 3-2 double overtime win.

The undrafted 19-year-old goaltender stood on his head straight out of the gate as he stopped 22 shots in the opening frame. He made 25 saves in the following 40 minutes to close out regulation play. He went on to pave the way for a double-overtime goal from Simon Chevrier (1G, +1) by making 14 more stops in the first frame of extra time.

To some extent, the effort was a bounce-back game for the 5-foot-11, 193-pounder. He allowed four goals on just 22 shots in his previous showing against the Saint John Sea Dogs in Round 1.

Of all the Foreurs Cadorette frustrated, Jan Mandat has to be near the top of the list as he put 10 pucks on net, albeit one did find mesh. Alexis Pepin, Jeremie Fraser, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Julien Gauthier, Anthony Richard and Simon Tremblay (1G) all put five or more shots on Drakkar’s net as well.

No. 2 Star: Nikolaj Ehlers, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)

The Danish sniper (4G-1A, +4) went to work against the Moncton Wildcats. He outscored the entire Moncton roster in the 7-3 affair while putting nine pucks on net.

Down 1-0, Ehlers set up a Danny Moyniahn marker and lit the lamp himself to turn the tables heading into the second period. He found the back of the net for a second time early in the middle frame after Philippe Gadoury (1G-3A, +4) hit him with a nice pass. He completed his hat trick just 32 seconds into the third and added an empty-netter for good measure with the game winding down.

The Winnipeg Jets draft choice has netted at least one point in all of his eight playoff games for six goals and 20 points. This impressive play shouldn’t surprise too many as he was held pointless in only five regular-season games this past season.

No. 3 Star: Mack Shields, Calgary Hitmen (WHL)

With Brendan Burke out with a lower-body injury, Shields made his case for why the Hitmen should ride him in the post-season. He made 33 saves as Calgary defeated the Medicine Hat Tigers 3-1 in Game 1 of the second-round series.

The Saskatoon, Sk., native was the main reason why the Hitmen went into the first intermission with a 2-1 lead. He turned aside 13 shots while his teammates only put five pucks on Marek Langhamer, who had an off night after playing exceptionally well in Round 1 against the Red Deer Rebels. He made 10 saves in each of the remaining periods to ensure the victory for his club.

Vancouver Canucks first-rounder Jake Virtanen scored the game-winner and notched an assist on Chase Lang’s (1G-2A, +3) insurance marker.

Honourable mention: Michael Dal Colle, Oshawa Generals (OHL)

The New York Islanders first-round pick (2G-1A, +1) stepped up for the Generals to help them knock off the Niagara IceDogs 5-3 in Game 1 of their series.

After a scoreless first period, Dal Colle sniped the first goal of the contest just over three minutes into the middle frame. He netted his second of the night later on in the second before setting up Mitchell Vande Sompel (1G-1A, -2) in the middle of the final frame.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pound winger’s three-point effort gives him eight points in his last three contests following failing to register a point in his previous two matches.

Potent notables: Tampa Bay Lightning pick Adam Erne (2G, +1) and Vladimir Tkachev (2G-1A, +3) played a big part in the Quebec Remparts knocking off the Charlottetown Islanders 7-2… Tommy Vellieux (1G-1A, +1) was in on both of the Gatineau Olympiques’ goals in their 2-1 win over the Rimouski Oceanic… Erie Otters superstar Connor McDavid was excluded from the three stars because his five-goal night earned him his own post… Jackson Whistle posted a 20-save shutout in the Kelowna Rockets’ 5-0 win over the Victoria Royals… Remi Laurencelle lit the lamp twice for the Everett Silvertips in a 5-3 victory against the Portland Winterhawks.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen