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Moose Jaw Warriors’ Kendall McFaull hands out helpers, leads Saturday’s 3 stars

No. 1 star: Kendall McFaull, Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)

McFaull doesn't seem to get his name in the news as often as his blueline mate Dylan McIlrath, but his work in the Warriors' 6-1 Game 2 win over Medicine Hat conveyed his importance to his team. The Warriors captain had four assists, was +4 and helped set up the defensive forcefield that the Tigers could only get 15 shots on goals through.

Medicine Hat, trying to rally from losing 61-goal scorer Emerson Etem to a suspension for a kneeing major, actually led 1-0 after 20 minutes. However, the cagey McFaull, who's a Winnipeg Jets draft pick, got some smart shots through from the point, leading to scoring opportunities that Quinton Howden twice cashed in to put the Warriors ahead for good. Coming out to start the third period, McFaull set up Eric Arnold for a backbreaker goal just 13 seconds into the frame to open a 3-1 lead. Five minutes later, McFaull got another primary assist on a Kenton Miller tally that further ensured the Warriors would take a two-game series lead with them as the Eastern Conference semifinal shifts west.

McFaull turns 20 on Tuesday, the day of Game 3. A win is probably on the top of his wishlist.

No. 2 star: Kristians Pelss, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)

The Edmonton Oilers pick scored two goals, both game-tying tallies, helping his Oilers-owned junior team eat Brandon 4-3 for their 17th consecutive win and a 2-0 lead in their conference semifinal. The native of Latvia first levelled for Edmonton early in the second period, then came back with a quick shot from the top of the slot after taking a feed from Tyler Maxwell.

That second goal buoyed the Oil Kings and might have broken Brandon's will somewhat, since Travis Ewanyk (another Oilers pick) scored just 86 seconds later to put Edmonton ahead for good. Pelss' scoring outburst could not have come at a better time for him. The Oilers have until June 1 to sign him to a contract. Helping their junior franchise go deeper into the playoffs certainly can't hurt his cause.

No. 3 star: Etienne Marcoux, Blainville-Boisbriand Armada (QMJHL)

The 18-year-old's first playoff shutout enabled the Armada to beat Rimouski 2-0, tying their league quarter-final series 1-1. With his team in no position to go down 0-2, Marcoux came up with 29 saves to stifle Océanic shooters. His night included 12 saves in the third period.

Honourable mention: Brandon Gormley, Shawinigan Cataractes (QMJHL)

Gormley's second game back with the Cataractes went more swimmingly than his first. The Phoenix Coyotes blueline prospect scored his first two goals since his injury two months ago and finished with three points overall in Shawinigan's 7-2 series-tying win over the Chicoutimi Saguenéens. Teammate Loïk Poudrier (1G-3A) also a had a huge night.

Potent notables — Calgary Flames prospect Sven Bärtschi, who scored twice in Portland's 4-1 win over Kamloops, now has 17 points in six WHL playoff games. The Winterhawks survived a 6-on-3 penalty kill over the game's final 1:25 ... Sixteen-year-old Nathan MacKinnon (2G-1A) was in all Halifax scoring in their 4-3 overtime loss to Quebec. Logan Shaw, who previously played for Halifax's archrival, the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles, forced overtime with a goal with 20 seconds left in regulation time ... Minnesota Wild first-rounder Zack Phillips (2G-3A) had five points in Saint John's 10-2 blowout over Baie-Comeau.

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