Edmonton Oil Kings’ Henrik Samuelsson shreds Blazers: Wednesday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Henrik Samuelsson, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

Samuelsson (2G, +3) delivered against the league leaders, scoring both his goals in the third period to lead Edmonton to a 5-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers. Edmonton had a 2-1 lead thanks in large part 17-year-old Tristan Jarry, who's the starting goalie until Laurent Brossoit returns from IIHF U20 duty, stopping 24-of-25 Blazers shots in the second period. With the lead hanging in the balance, Samuelsson, a Phoenix Coyotes late first-rounder, got his stick out to tip in a David Musil shot to open a multi-goal spread. About six minutes later, Dylan Wruck gave Samuelsson a drop pass with the puck slightly on edge, but the U.S. national junior team canadidate one-timed it home to give Edmonton its final three-goal margin.

Musil (2A, +3) and Keegan Lowe (2A, +2) also had multi-point nights for Edmonton. Jarry stopped 37-of-39 Blazers shots.

No. 2 star: Jean-François Plante, Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

Plante and the Océanic showed a team can win a game in one period, as they got goals from six players in the second period to vanquish the Victoriaville Tigres 6-4. Plante helped Rimouski get off the deck by assisting on a Michael Joly goal 1:03 into that frame that erased an early Tigres lead and then got another apple on Peter Trainor's tally fewr than five minutes later. Victoriaville actually pared a 4-1 margin to 4-3, but Plante assisted on a power-play goal and then set up Alexis Loiseau to open an insurmountable lead.

No. 3 star: Damon Severson, Kelowna Hitmen (WHL)

The New Jersey Devils second-rounder led his team to its second road win in 24 hours, earning first-star honours in a 3-1 Rockets win over the Lethbridge Hurricanes. The 18-year-old Severson (2A, +1) had the primary assists on goals 49 seconds apart in the first period by Carter Rigby and J.T. Barnett. The rest of the night was all about Severson and the Rockets bending but not breaking against some unyielding Lethbridge pressure and having fortune on their side. The Hurricanes hit six goalposts in the third period, but Severson, goalie Jordon Cooke and pals didn't panic despite all the close calls.

Honourable mention: Josh Nicholls, Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

The overage Nicholls (1G-1A, -1) was the game's first star as Saskatoon won its fourth consecutive game, manhandling Morgan Rielly-less Moose Jaw 5-2. Nicholls scored his team-leading 24th goal on a power play in the second period and was also in on a Shayne Gwinner extra-man marker. Dallas Stars draft Matej Stransky also had a two-point night for Saskatoon.

Potent notables — Carolina Hurricanes prospect Victor Rask was the first star in Calgary's 2-1 win at Red Deer after scoring the winning goal. Ottawa Senators-drafted goalie Chris Driedger stopped 35-of-36 shots ... Belleville Bulls goalie Charlie Graham had a 15-save shutout at Ottawa ... Plymouth's Matthew Mistele was named the game's first star despite the Whalers' 4-3 OT loss to Sault Ste. Marie ... Overage Guillaume Asselin (1G-1A, +3) led Chicoutimi to a 3-1 win over Shawinigan.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Contact him at neatesager@yahoo.ca and follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.