REGINA, Sask. – The UBC Thunderbirds couldn't recover from an early deficit as they dropped the first half of their weekend series in Regina 4-2 to the Cougars at the Co-operators Centre, extending their losing streak to seven games.

Scott Mickoski scored on the home team's first shot of the game and he'd later add another.

Tristan Frei also scored, as did leading scorer Ben Duperreault who collected his eighth goal of the season for the Cougars as they improve to 5-12-2 on the season. Now riding a three-game winning streak, the U of R has jumped right back into the playoff picture as the Cougars and Thunderbirds are now tied for the sixth and final Canada West postseason berth.



Matt Revel and Carter Popoff scored for the Thunderbirds (4-11-4).

Regina's first goal came less than two minutes into the game. Tyler King backhanded the puck back into the Thunderbirds zone, where it bounced off Ty Barnstable and out to Mickoski, who whacked the puck on net and it squeaked across the goal line.

Cougars captain Tristan Frei's relentless effort paid off midway through the first period as he fired a puck on goal and found his own rebound, extending the Cougars' lead to 2-0.

The Thunderbirds answered back with a goal of their own to close out the first period. Jarret Tyszka dumped the puck over to Revel who wheeled into the Cougars zone and scored on a backhand shot.

  

Mickoski's second goal, which turned out to be the game winner, came with 6:52 left in the second period. Tyler Adams took a shot from the point which Mickoski deflected past Toth to put the Cougars up 3-1. A minute later, Duperreault scored off a rebound to add another insurance marker.

Popoff scored the final goal of the night for UBC with 4 seconds left to play, shorthanded, his third of the season. 

Brandon Holtby made 14 saves for the Cougars in the victory. The T-Birds failed to score on four power play chances while their penalty kill went a perfect 3-for-3.

The Cougars and Thunderbirds will face off again on Saturday afternoon, with puck drop set for 1:00 p.m. PT at The Co-operators Centre.