As the UBC Thunderbirds prepare for their first road trip of 2019 against the No. 2 Alberta Pandas Friday and Saturday, January 11 and 12, they know it will be a playoff type atmosphere with plenty on the line, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
The 'Birds (8-4-3-3) enter this weekend three points back of the Manitoba Bisons who hold down second place in the Canada West while the first place Pandas (12-3-3-0) are nine points ahead of UBC having already clinched a playoff berth.
UBC is still gunning for one of the top two spots which would earn them a first-round bye. That motivation combined with a desire to test their mettle against the Pandas makes for what should be a heated series at Clare Drake Arena this weekend.
The T-Birds picked up a single point by way of an overtime loss against Alberta when UBC hosted the Pandas for a pair of games in Vancouver back in October.
Puck drop Friday in Edmonton is 6:00 p.m. PT with Saturday's final regular season meeting between the two at 1:00 p.m. PT.
Last Action
UBC split their opening weekend of 2019 with the Mount Royal Cougars on home ice. The 'Birds won their fifth game in their last six Friday night, 2-1 in regulation but suffered a 1-0 shutout loss Saturday afternoon.
The Pandas extended their current win streak to five games as they swept the Bisons in Manitoba which included a double overtime victory Saturday.
Players to Watch
Rylind MacKinnon (#55, D) – With her first game winning goal of her Canada West career Friday night, MacKinnon is up to nine points on the season, leading all T-Bird rookies in scoring, second among all Canada West rookies. MacKinnon also leads the 'Birds with four points on the power play.
Ashley McFadden (#13, F) – Another rookie having a big impact early in her Canada West career, McFadden's three power play goals leads the entire conference. Two of her four goals on the season are game winners and her seven points are good for a share of fifth in team scoring.
Coach's Take
The 'Birds managed to score just twice last weekend against Mount Royal, a pace that the team knows needs to improve down the stretch, especially against a team like the Pandas.
"We're looking for everyone to step up, but most importantly our best players and our veterans, we're challenging them right now, they need to be better," said UBC head coach
Graham Thomas. "They're the ones getting the opportunities and ice time and they need to step up and be better if we want to accomplish what we want to this year."
The three-time Canada West champion coach is also looking for an uptick in the team's overall intensity level, and a playoff type atmosphere in Edmonton this weekend is an opportunity for a glimpse at what the post-season will feel like.
"We just really want to see the compete level and intensity get up and treat this like a playoff series. I believe that we're prepared but we need to continue to develop that will to win and intensity that comes with playoff hockey. I'm really looking forward to seeing how we respond and how we can take it to that next level."
