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Victoria Royals goalie Patrik Polivka stops 47 in do-or-done Game 5: Saturday’s 3 Stars

Neate Sager

No. 1 star: Patrik Polivka, Victoria Royals (WHL)

The Royals goalie the main man on a night when three Western League teams extended their series to a Game 6. Polivka made 47 saves, including 19 in the second period when Victoria was widely outplayed, to help the Royals pull out a 4-2 win and extend their season.

Victoria, missing injured 60-point scorer Brandon Magee, reached deep to earn itself another game. Buffalo Sabres fifth-rounder Logan Nelson came back being shaken up by a heavy check in the second period to get two third-period points. Defenceman Brett Cote (2G, +2) also made a goal-saving play on Kamloops' Brendan Ranford before scoring a pair of goals, including the go-ahead goal. The constant, though, was Polivka. The Czech 'tender hung in during that second period when Kamloops could have run away with the contest, but ended up coming out of the period in a 2-2 tie.

Game 6 is Monday at Kamloops' Bear Mountain Arena.

No. 2 star: Austin Lotz, Everett Silvertips (WHL)

Lotz had the ultimate bounce-back game, weathering a furious Portland Winterhawks push to come out with 43 saves and a 3-2 series-extending triumph for the 'Tips. The 17-year-old goalie was lit up for eight goals on Friday by the Winterhawks, but shrugged it off the blank the league's highest-scoring team until well into the third period. The Manitoban also had an assist on the Everett's final goal by Reid Petryk that put Portland into a three-goal hole that it might have escaped if a regulation game lasted 61 minutes instead of 60.

No. 3 star: Tyson Baillie, Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Him again? Well, the 17-year-old Baillie earned first-star honours as the Rockets moved halfway to the second comeback from a 3-0 series deficit in the Dub's history, winning 4-3 on Seattle Thunderbirds ice in Game 5. Baillie scored his seventh point of the series in the first period with a power-play goal that opened the scoring and generated chances throughout the night. Some recognition could have also gone to Rockets scoring leader Myles Bell, whose two-point night included scoring the eventual winning goal.

Honourable mention: Brenden Kichton, Spokane Chiefs (WHL)

Kichton (1G-1A) forced the issue early, as Spokane put away the goaltending-challenged Tri-City Americans with a 4-1 Game 1 victory. The overage defenceman, who should be a sought-after free-agent signing once the New York Islanders' draft rights to him expire May 31, set up Mike Aviani's opening goal in the 15th minute of play. Kichton then pulled Spokane's sputtering power play out of second gear with a snipe in the second period. He had five points in as many games during the series.

Potent notables — Winnipeg Jets pick Austen Brassard scored his first of the playoffs in Belleville's 5-0 shutout of Mississauga in the lone OHL contest. Boston Bruins first-rounder Malcolm Subbanhad a 29-save shutout.

Neate Sager is a writer for Yahoo! Canada Sports. Follow him on Twitter @neatebuzzthenet. Please address any questions, comments or concerns to btnblog@yahoo.ca.