Lethbridge Hurricanes' Stuart Skinner stops 50 shots in his first WHL win: Wednesday's 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Stuart Skinner, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)

Two of the three Dub games involved a comeback from three goals down, but none was probably more badly needed than Lethbridge's 4-3 shootout verdict over the Calgary Hitmen. It would not have been possible without the 15-year-old Skinner, who was playing just his seventh junior game, stopping 50-of-53 shots from a team widely considered an Eastern Conference contender.

That snapped the beleaguered Hurricanes' 17-game losing streak dating back to last season and gave it a win in its first outing since trading its best player, forward Reid Duke. Oh, and they were coming off a recent 9-2 loss to the same Hitmen.

The 6-foot-4 Skinner had 33 saves in the first two periods alone, includng successive glove saves late in Period 2 that kept the margin at 3-1. Hurricanes captain Jamal Watson (1G-1A, +2) led by example from there, tying the game with a short-handed breakaway goal with 6:19 left and also converting in the shootout.

No. 2 star: Madison Bowey, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Bowey (2G-3A, +3) helped the Rockets win a 7-5 shootout against the Vancouver Giants, getting a short-handed goal, power-play assist and the empty-netter just in the final 10 minutes.

The Washington Capitals pick and his teammates were in a three-goal hole after 20 minutes, but killing off a five-minute power play at the start of the second thanks to a Tyler Benson boarding major/game misconduct took a toll on the Giants. Bowey's blueline mate, Cole Martin, scored a short-handed goal and two Bowey-assisted power-play goals pulled the Rockets level.

Kelowna was up in the third period when Bowey pounced on a blueline turnover and wired a wrister that hit a Giants defenceman and ricocheted into the net. Following an undisciplined Giants penalty on the next shift, Bowey came right back to set up a goal for a 6-3 lead. That gave Kelowna enough cushion to ride out a late Vancouver rally.

No. 3 star: Vaclav Karabacek, Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)

Consider the Buffalo Sabres second-rounder off the schneid. Karabacek came in goal-less in three games this season, but his pair helped the 'Piques down division rival Blainville-Boisbriand 5-3. Karabacek (2G, +1) struck for the icebreaker 6:12 into the game. His second came late in the second just two minutes after Gatineau had coughed up its early lead.

Gatineau had its quick-strike game working. Blainville-Boisbriand tied the game again in the third, but 17-year-old Alex Dostie (1G-1A, +2) struck for the winner just 74 seconds later.

Honourable mention: Alexandre Goulet, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL)

It is rare to see the first star inside the arena be bestowed on a visiting player whose team lost. Goulet (2G, -1) earned that distinction after notching a pair of power-play goals that gave the Islanders a late third-period lead in Saint John. Columbus Blue Jackets draft pick Olivier LeBlanc saved the Sea Dogs' night by equalizing with 3:45 left, which lead to Saint John winning 5-4 in the breakaway circus.

Potent notables — Kamloops' Bolton Pouliot stopped 33-of-34 shots in a win over Swift Current ... in the sole OHL game, Zach Senyshyn and Gustav Bouramann scored their first career goals to boost Sault Ste. Marie to a win over Saginaw ... Tampa Bay Lightning second-rounder Adam Erne had his second three-point game in a row for Quebec.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet.