VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds (7-11-2) allowed three goals against in the first nine minutes of the game as the Manitoba Bisons (9-10-1) carried the lead to a 4-2 win at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre, handing the T-Birds their first regulation loss of 2017.
 
Trailing 3-0 after the first, Austin Vetterl got the 'Birds on the board with his fourth of the season. A pass attempt deflected off a Bison and right to Vetterl's stick in the slot where he made no mistake beating Byron Spriggs with a sharp wrister at 10:58. Manraj Hayer and Joe Carvalho picked up the assists.

The Thunderbirds continued to press in the third but the Bisons restored their three-goal lead with less than four minutes remaining when Shaq Merasty fired a long, heavy shot that got by UBC's Derek Dun. The T-Birds were given just their second power play of the game shortly after when Lee Christensen was called for slashing. Jerret Smith cut the lead back to two with his fourth of the season, and second power play goal in as many games, from Anthony Bardaro and Hayer at 17:50.
 
Christensen was called for unsportsmanlike conduct immediately upon exiting the box after Smith's goal and was sent right back in putting the 'Birds back on the power play. Dun was sent to the bench for the extra attacker making it a 6-on-4 advantage but UBC couldn't beat Spriggs, who made several spectacular stops.
 
Adam Henry was called for holding with 19 seconds remaining on the clock giving the T-Birds a short two-man advantage but again, Spriggs came up big helping the Bisons hang on for the win.
 


"When you're constantly chasing in the game it wears on you mentally and physically," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "When you're fighting for your playoff lives it shouldn't matter what the score is, you have to somehow make it happen and we just couldn't get on track."
 
The Bisons opened scoring just 1:14 into the first period on the power play after Chase Clayton was called for goaltender interference. Brett Stovin converted for his third goal of the season on Manitoba's first shot of the game. The Bisons then doubled their lead less than two minutes later with Quintin Lisoway's fifth.
 
It was 3-0 by the 8:29 mark as Justin Augert scored his ninth as the Bisons executed on both of their first two power plays.
 
The Bisons out shot UBC 43-31. The T-Birds finished the game 1-for-4 on the power play scoring four times on the man advantage on 11 opportunities over the weekend, doubling their entire season production prior to Friday. Manitoba scored twice on six chances Saturday.
 
The loss drops UBC to 5-4-1 on home ice and three points behind Manitoba for the final Canada West playoff berth with eight games remaining in the regular season.
 
"We're in a spot where we have to at least get points in every game and give ourselves a chance, it doesn't matter who our opponent is, we're fighting for our lives," said Butenschon.
 
The Thunderbirds close out their home stand next Friday and Saturday night hosting the conference-leading Saskatchewan Huskies.
 
Manitoba is back on the road next weekend, travelling to Lethbridge, Alta., for a two-game set against the Pronghorns.