Swift Current's Landon Bow, Prince Albert's Nick McBride lock up in goalie duel: Friday's 3 Stars

No. 1 stars: Landon Bow, Swift Current Broncos and Nick McBride, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL)

Bow and McBride went save for save over 65 gripping minutes between two teams eyeing the last East Division playoff berth. Ultimately, Bow, who gave up a faith-shaking goal during Swift Current's last visit to Prince Albert in February, stopped 46-of-47 shots during the game and nixed 2-of-3 breakaway contest attempts to help Swift Current take the 2-1 shootout win. Bow was excellent on chances from close-range, especially during the third period and overtime, while defenceman Jordan Thomson had one of his strongest nights since joining the Broncos.

McBride stopped 52-of-53 for the Raiders and the only goal he allowed came after Coda Gordon pounced on a loose puck after a point shot was blocked. Glenn Gawdin and Jake DeBrusk each converted in the shootout.

The win moved the Broncos closer to clinching a playoff berth over Moose Jaw (four points adrift) and Prince Albert (seven back, but with five games to play to the other two's four).

No. 2 star: Dennis Yan, Shawinigan Cataractes  (QMJHL) 

From a game where no one could score to a scorefest: Yan (2G-2A, +2) had four poiints to help Shawinigan outlast the Val-d'Or Foreurs 6-5. The first-year import had a goal and an assist within the game's 13 minutes, helped Shawinigan stay level at 3-3 through 40 minutes. Yan struck again with 10:57 left in the third for his 30th of the season, opening a two-goal margin. Val-d'Or hung in, but Yan also made a play to set up an empty-netter with 1:14 remaining.

No. 3 star: Colin Shirley, Kamloops Blazers (WHL)

Shirley (2G, +1) took first-star honours as Kamloops moved into a tie for the last playoff berths in its conference by downing first-place Kamloops 5-1. The Saskatoon native, who turns 19 on Monday, did his damage in the middle period. Shirley opened the scoring with a goal 33 seconds into the frame and struck again on the power play for his 25th of the season.

Kamloops also got a quick goal from Deven Sideroff in the third and cruised home. The Blazers winning, coupled with Tri-City defeating Prince George, means all three teams are tied for the two Western Conference wild-card spots. Kamloops and Prince George are also tied for third in the B.C. Division.

Honourable mention: Jaedon Descheneau, Kootenay Ice (WHL)

The St. Louis Blues prospect helped Kootenay record a 7-1 win over Medicine Hat, its possible first-round foe in the Central Division. Descheneau (2G-1A, +2) fed Luke Philp for the icebreaker just 38 seconds into the contest. The 20-year-old Edmonton native also scored in each of the final two periods.

Potent notables — Brandon's Tim McGauley (1G-2A vs. Saskatoon) took the lead in the WHL points race, 103-101 over Medicine Hat's Trevor Cox ... Portland's Oliver Bjorkstrand has 55 goals 100 points in just 53 games ... Riley Whittingham (2G, +1) helped Spokane upset Portland 5-3 ... Justin Gutierrez (1G-2A, +2) led Tri-City to a 7-4 win over Prince George ... Victoria's Coleman Vollrath posted his fifth shutout of the season, making 25 saves against Vancouver ... In the OHL, overage Jake Paterson stopped 45-of-48 shots in Kitchener's 5-3 win against Guelph ... Rookie Jeremy Helvig (32 saves) was first star of the final Belleville Bulls-Kingston Frontenacs game, a 5-2 Fronts win ... Mitchell Stephens (2G, +2) helped Saginaw top Sarnia 4-3 ... Eighteen-year-olds Dante Salituro (2G) and Liam Herbst (31 saves) helped Ottawa edge Eastern-leading Oshawa 2-1 ... Arizona Coyotes prospect Michael Bunting scored his 35th in Sault Ste. Marie's win over Plymouth ... Colorado Avalanche defence prospect Chris Bigras scored his 20th for Owen Sound ...In the QMJHL, Conor Garland (2G-2A, +2), Ivan Barbashev (1G-2A, +1) and Dominic Talbot-Tassi (4A, +1) helped Moncton beat Saint John 8-4 to tie Rimouski for first overall with each team having four games to play ... Montreal Canadiens prospect Jérémy Grégoire (2G, +1) helped Baie-Comeau down Rimouski 4-2 .., Kyle Farrell (2G, +1) scored his 40th and 41st during Cape Breton's road win against Charlottetown.

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