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Chicago Blackhawks prospect Brandon Saad gets 4 points to top Friday’s 3 Stars

Neate Sager

No. 1 star: Brandon Saad, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)

Saad dominated the critical Game 5 of the Saginaw-Sarnia Sting series gave the Spirit control of the series, putting up four points in a 5-2 victory. The Sting picked a curious time for a no-show and Saad took advantage, once again leaving brows furrowed in a vain attempt to understand how the Chicago Blackhawks were able to get him with the No. 42 pick last summer. In the first period, he outmuscled the Sting's Adrian Robertson and Dominic Alberga in the corner and made a centring pass that led to linemate Michael Fine cleaning up the garbage for a 2-0 lead. Later in the frame, Saad blazed down the wing and deked JP Anderson to open a three-goal margin.

Another goal in the second period and an assist on the empty-netter gave Saad a two-goal, two-assist night. He's third in playoff scoring with 12 points.

No. 2 star: Tobias Rieder, Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

Rieder, an Edmonton Oilers pick, factored into all Rangers scoring while helping them eliminate Owen Sound with a 4-2 Game 5 victory. The 19-year-old native of Landshut, Germany set up both of centre Andrew Crescenzi's goals in the opening frame. Rieder then took over in the second period, first by getting a power-play goal (with Crescenzi reciprocating with the primary assist) and then by scoring unassisted midway through the frame. Rieder's second goal defused the last flare in the depleted Attack's 2012 Roman candle, since it came just 1:27 after Owen Sound had pulled within a goal.

With seven goals and 13 points the five-game win, it's safe to assume Rieder has wiped away the memory of his playoff performance in his rookie season. He had zero goals and two assists in seven games last spring, when Kitchener was bounced in the first round.

No. 3 star: Mitch Holmberg, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Hard-working Holmberg followed up scoring the game-winning goal in Spokane's previous tilt by getting two third-period goals to help them throttle the Vancouver Giants 5-1 to go up 3-2 in the last WHL series yet to be decided. The Mike Aviani-Darren Kramer-Holmberg line was the best troika on the ice, scoring three of the Chiefs' goals.

Kramer scored early in the second period to open a two-goal lead, but Montreal Canadiens prospect Brendan Gallagher put the lead on thin ice with his fifth goal in five playoff games later in the frame. Holmberg, though, crashed the net to score twice early in the third and put the game away. The Chiefs can clinch the series on Sunday; they've done quite well considering their leading scorer and No. 1 defenceman Brenden Kichton is out with an injured jaw.

Honourable mention: Shane Prince, Ottawa 67's (OHL)

The Ottawa Senators second-rounder was quiet through the first four games of the Belleville Bulls-67's series, but broke out with a hat trick in their 5-2 win in Game 5. Belleville took an early lead, but Prince tied the game with a short-handed goal after a well-placed shot by Cody Ceci — who logged 35-plus minutes — created a rebound chance. Prince showed nice sleight-of-hand on his second goal by batting the puck after his own shot ricocheted off the goalpost. He also added the empty-netter.

Potent notables — James Henry, Cam Braes and Dallas Ehrhardt each had two-point nights in Moose Jaw's series-clinching win over Red Deer ... Cameron Brace scored both Owen Sound goals ... In the QMJHL, Sébastien Trudeau's overtime winner gave the Acadie-Bathurst Titan a 3-2 win over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, who missed their first chance to advance. Los Angeles Kings second-round pick Chris Gibson made 39 saves for the Sags.

(Game recaps available on the news page.)

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet (video: TV Cogeco Ontario).