Rimouski’s Alexandre Mallet has record night to top Friday’s 3 Stars

No. 1 star: Alexandre Mallet, Rimouski Océanic (QMJHL)

Wherever he wanders, wherever he roams, Mallet may say he had a five-goal game for Rimouski and Sidney Crosby never did. The 19-year-old had a career game by putting a cinq-spot on the board to lead the Océanic to a 7-4 home win over the Chicoutimi Saguéneens, bolstering Rimouski's playoff position. Mallet scored a natural hat trick just in the first period alone, scoring three different ways (off the rush, finding a crease in the coverage to rap home a centring pass and on a one-time setup). Chicoutimi made a run and tied the game in the third period, but Mallet scored from the low shot with 9:30 to play to untie the contest. He also added the empty-netter to become the third Rimouski player to score five in one game. All told, he's had a fine season, with 81 points after getting just 19 all last season.

No. 2 star: Yanni Gourde, Victoriaville Tigres (QMJHL)

The Q's soon-to-be scoring champ also had a five-point night, scoring the third-period game-winner and dishing out four assists in a well-fought 7-5 win over MasterCard Memorial Cup-host Shawinigan. The win was huge, vaulting Victoriaville over Quebec for fourth overall.

Gourde and his linemates Stefan Fournier (three assists) and Philippe Maillet (2G-3A) combined for 13 points. Gourde started slowly with two assists in the opening two periods, but set up two Maillet markers in the third period before scoring the winner with 3:01 to play. The St. Narcisse, Que., native is now up to 122 points in a league where only one player, Acadie-Bathurst's Zach O'Brien, has managed to join the century club.

No. 3 star: Keith Hamilton, Victoria Royals (WHL)

Coming into the week, the Royals had the least margin of error among the three teams vying for the last two playoff berths in the Dub's Western Conference. Thanks to Hamilton, who made 36 saves on Friday night to beat his former Portland Winterhawks club for the second time this week, they are in the playoffs in their first season on Vancouver Island. Hamilton was stellar in the 3-1 win over a team which is bolstered by nine NHL draft picks in the lineup even without Sven Bärtschi. Hamilton made 27 saves in the first 40 minutes before Mike Forsyth (1G-1A, +3) got the winner 5:40 into the third period.

Honourable mention: Garret Sparks, Guelph Storm (OHL)

Like Hamilton, Sparks shone in a playoff berth-clinching home win. The Toronto Maple Leafs draft choice stopped 28 shots in the Storm's 4-0 win over Owen Sound, which is impressive considering he's scarcely had a night off while helping Guelph fight tooth and nail for a playoff berth. The Storm, who are one point up on eighth-place Windsor with a game to go, also got a three-point night out of promising 17-year-old Hunter Garlent.

Honourable mention: Michael Houser, London Knights (OHL)

Speaking of goalies who never take a night off, Houser tied the league record for most wins credited to a netminder a single season and was full value for the effort. The Wexford, Pa., native, stopped 30-of-32 shots while backing the Knights to a 3-2 win over southwest Ontario rival Sarnia Sting on the Friday Night Hockey telecast. The W gives Houser 46 on the season, tying the three-year-old mark set by the Windsor Spitfires' Andrew Engelage.

The Knights and Plymouth Whalers are in a dead heat for first overall with one game left apiece. Earlier reports said Houser would be rested for London's game Saturday vs. last-place Erie.

Honourable mention: Jamie Wise, Mississauga-St. Michael's Majors (OHL)

Wise scored twice, including an equalizer with 11 seconds left in regulation to help Missy beat Barrie 4-3 in overtime in what was likely a playoff preview. The overage forward likely has not received enough accolades for who he's busted out as a finisher this season, with 31 goals after scoring seven in his whole career prior to this season. The win kept the Majors two points up on seventh-place Oshawa. Barrie, who's locked into the 3 seed in the OHL's Eastern Conference, sat out five regulars.

Potent notables — Anaheim Ducks first-rounder Emerson Etem scored his CHL-best 61st goal for Medicine Hat ... Tri-City overager Adam Hughesman (2G-1A) joined the 50-goal club ... Moose Jaw's Cam Braes got his 40th of the season ... Philadelphia Flyers draft pick Brendan Ranford also hit the 40 plateau while helping Kamloops blow out Prince George 10-4. Colin Smith had a hat trick for the B.C. Division champion Blazers, reaching the 35-goal mark ... Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Josh Nicholls scored his 30th in Saskatoon's win at Swift Current ... OveragerBurke Gallimore's 100th career goal gave Seattle a 4-3 win over Spokane as the Thunderbirds pulled even with Everett for the final Western Conference playoff berth. The teams are even with 52 points; Seattle has two games left to Everett's one ... In the OHL, Edmonton Oilers pick Tobias Rieder scored twice for Kitchener. Rangers goalie John Gibson stopped 49-of-50 shots in the win over Erie ... linemates Billy Jenkins and Ryan Kujawinski each had two points in Kingston's 4-3 shootout loss to Belleville ... In the QMJHL, Sebastian Auger's 29-save shutout gave Saint John a league record-tying eight clean sheets. Etienne Marcoux handled 34 shots in Blainville-Boisbriand's 4-0 win at Quebec.

(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.