The Matchup
The hottest team in the Canada West embarks on their final regular season road trip as the UBC Thunderbirds (14-9-1) visit the Mount Royal Cougars (11-11-2) Friday and Saturday, February 2 and 3.
Having won six in a row, the 'Birds have already locked up a playoff spot but a single regulation win this weekend will clinch a home berth for the Canada West quarterfinals for just the second time in the last 47 years.
UBC enters the weekend just a single point behind third-place Manitoba and five ahead of Mount Royal. The Cougars are five points up on both Calgary and Lethbridge as the three battle it out for the final two playoff spots.
The T-Birds dropped both games against Mount Royal in Vancouver back in November but UBC took both games against the Cougars in Calgary on the final weekend of the regular season last year to punch a ticket to the playoffs.
Puck drop Friday is 6:00 p.m. PT with Saturday's final regular season meeting with the Cougars at 2:00 p.m. PT, both at Calgary's Flames Community Arenas.
Last Action
UBC handed the Saskatchewan Huskies their first back-to-back losses since their appearance at the 2016 University Cup national championship tournament.
Michael Stenerson had his first three point game as a Thunderbird in a 5-1 win Friday while
Rylan Toth made 27 saves for his first Canada West win, a 3-1 victory on Saturday.
The Cougars picked up a single point in a 6-5 double overtime loss to Calgary in a wild Crowchild Classic last Thursday at the Saddledome. MRU then dropped Saturday's rematch, 4-2.
By the Numbers
1.29 – During the 'Birds' current six-game win streak,
Matt Hewitt and
Rylan Toth have combined for a 1.29 goals against average. UBC has outscored the opposition by a combined 23-8 during the same span.
7 – The 'Birds have had good success against the Cougars in Calgary since Mount Royal joined Canada West in the 2012-13 season posting a 7-2-1 record.
Players to Watch
Nick Buonassisi (#12, F) – Saving the best for last, the fifth-year forward has set new career highs in assists (14) and points (19) and sits tied for second in team scoring. Buonassisi is working on a five-game point streak with three goals and five assists.
Matt Hewitt (#30, G) – Hewitt is having a tremendous season in his fifth and final year in the Canada West with career highs in wins (11) and save percentage (.921). The New Westminster native had an extraordinary month of January with a 6-1 record, a .945 save percentage and a 1.80 goals against average.
Coach's Take
While the 'Birds have enjoyed a tremendous 2018 thus far, UBC head coach
Sven Butenschon knows his team can't afford to get complacent.
"As great as we have been playing, we went on an eight game losing streak in the first half so you don't want to lose that edge," said Butenschon who has now guided the T-Birds to a playoff berth in both his years as bench boss. "You got to stick to what's been giving us success and continue to do the little things and work hard in practice and execute the game plan. The minute you start reading your own press clippings and you get soft, it's gone, so we got to keep that edge."
The Cougars enter Friday night having lost three in a row and the 'Birds know they'll be hungry while trying to hunt down a playoff spot.
"We just got to play our game," said Butenschon. "Any time we play a good opponent it brings the best out of us, so if they bring their A game I expect us to bring our A game too."
There's some recent history between the 'Birds and Cougars having met in the 2015-16 quarterfinal, and depending on how things shake down over the next two weeks they could meet up once again.
"They're organized, they're well coached, they're well disciplined," added Butenschon. "You have to be patient and not try to do too much because they always seem to have guys behind the puck. They're a little bit conservative through the neutral zone so as soon as you start forcing stuff they'll capitalize."
