VANCOUVER - The UBC Thunderbirds women's hockey team (12-8-4-2), who came in at ninth in the CIS' latest national rankings, will aim to maintain their place atop the Canada West standings this weekend, as they face off against the Manitoba Bisons (12-12-0-2) in their final two games of regular season action.
 
The 'Birds and Bisons will kick off their two-game series on Friday, February 12, with puck drop set for 5:00 p.m. (PT). The second matchup is scheduled for an 11:00 a.m. (PT) start the next day, Saturday, February 13. Both contests will take place at Manitoba's Wayne Fleming Arena.
 
The T-Birds are coming off a back-to-back against the Regina Cougars that showed the terrific potential of the squad to do real damage as they move towards the playoffs. Friday's contest saw the 'Birds look a team that might be underrated at ninth in the country – they flat-out dominated the Cougars to the tune of a 3-0 shutout.
 
The T-Birds got scoring from three different lines, including leading scorer Rebecca Unrau (Humboldt, Sask.), who bagged her team-high 12th goal of the season. Rookie Matthea Fischer had one of the most impressive performances of her freshman campaign, notching two assists. In goal, fifth-year senior Danielle Dube was her usual stellar self, collecting her third shutout of the season with a 25-save performance.
 
Saturday's game was a bit different. The T-Birds showed an excellent battle level, as, after falling into a 2-0 hole midway through the second, the Blue and Gold battled back to equalize the game before the period was out, getting goals from Fischer and Logan Boyd (Waterdown, Ont.).
 
A late Saskatchewan power play goal in the third frame proved the difference, but the Thunderbirds showed the ability to claw their way back into the contest, which bodes well for their hopes of making a deep run in the post-season.
 
Unlike the T-Birds, Manitoba hasn't yet clinched a playoff spot, as their 12-12-0-2 record has them in the fifth spot in the conference, with both Lethbridge and Mount Royal with the potential to overtake them in the season's final weekend.
 
To clinch a spot regardless of what the other teams do, Manitoba needs just a single point. If the Bisons fail to earn that point against the T-Birds, they can still secure a playoff spot if Mount Royal doesn't win both of their games against Alberta this weekend, and/or Letbridge loses at least one of their games against Calgary in regulation.