VANCOUVER – A Canada West men's hockey playoff spot will be on the line for the UBC Thunderbirds (10-12-4) when they host the Manitoba Bisons (12-12-2) this weekend in Vancouver.

It is the final weekend of regular season action in the league. The puck drops on Friday, February 12 and Saturday, February 13 at 7 p.m. (PT) at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbirds Sports Centre.

UBC currently occupies the sixth and final playoff spot in Canada West, and can clinch a postseason berth with two points - from either a win or a pair of overtime/shootout losses - to ensure they aren't overtaken by the Lethbridge Pronghorns, who trail by three points coming into the weekend. UBC can finish as high as fourth in the league standings at season's end and as low as seventh, and out of the playoffs.

The last time the Bisons and Thunderbirds faced off was in late October, with UBC securing a 4-2 win and Manitoba edging UBC in a gruelling 3-2 double overtime contest.

Last weekend, the Thunderbirds got a split on the road at Regina, with a 5-3 win on Friday before a 2-1 setback on Saturday. Since the start of January, the team has been outscored 36-21 over a 10-game spa, which has seen two victories.

The T-Birds will need to harness the scoring depth put on display in last Friday's five-goal performance, where 11 different UBC players registered points.

The offensive skills of point leaders Anthony Bardaro (Delta, B.C.), Luke Lockhart (Burnaby, B.C.) and Austin Vetterl (Surrey, B.C.), who have logged 26, 22 and 19 points, respectively, will be crucial in this weekend's matchup.

Forwards Scott Macdonald (Surrey, B.C.), Manraj Hayer (Vancouver), Nick Buonassisi (Coquitlam, B.C.), Joe Antilla (Madiera Park, B.C.) and defenceman Neil Manning (Nanaimo, B.C.) all have point totals in the double digits.

Goaltenders Matt Hewitt (New Westminster, B.C.) and Eric Williams (Langley, B.C.) have been sharing duties this season between the pipes. Both played well last weekend against Regina. Williams was in net for Friday's victory and Hewitt made 27 saves during Saturday's 2-1 loss.

UBC head coach Adam Shell knows how hard-fought this weekend's games will be, but believes that his team is capable of facing that challenge.

"This weekend is important. Our focus has to be on doing things right all the time," said Shell. "We have to have the right mindset…we just have to continue to put as many pucks at the net as possible."

Shell also notes that, despite his team's recent slump, his players have remained determined and focused all season long.

"I have been very proud of our players' resiliency and attitude both through the highs and lows," he said.

Manitoba are fresh off back-to-back wins over Calgary, netting 11 goals over two games. The Bisons have gone an even 5-5 since the start of 2016 and sit two points ahead of the Thunderbirds in Canada West standings.

The Bisons' top scorers have logged impressive numbers this season. Jordan DePape has recorded 18 goals and 23 assists, placing him in fifth nationwide. Shaq Merasty, who has 26 points, has registered 128 shots, the most of any CIS player. Freshman Brett Stovin has 25 points, while defenders Channing Bresciani and Adam Henry have 16 and 14, respectively.

Like UBC, the Bisons have split the season between two goaltenders, Justin Paulic and Byron Spriggs. They've registered six wins apiece, but Paulic's 3.29 and Spriggs' 3.54 goals-against averages are seventh and 10th in the Canada West, respectively. Manitoba has allowed 91 goals against this season, six more than they have scored.