VANCOUVER — Jane Kish was phenomenal in net while UBC failed to score on 11 power play chances as the Regina Cougars handed the Thunderbirds a 1-0 loss Friday night at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Despite outshooting the Cougars 34-14 and dominating puck possession, the T-Birds were shutout for the fifth time in their last six games while their losing streak extended to seven.

Regina played with fire throughout the game with some undisciplined play, giving the 'Birds plenty of opportunities on the power play but UBC was unable to convert on 11 chances while Kish kept her team in a game they otherwise had no business being in.



The Cougars finally broke the scoreless deadlock midway through the third when Jordan Kulbida beat Tory Micklash blocker side with a wrister from the slot. The third-year Cougar raced to the puck along the boards to hold the zone and then powered towards the net, unleashing her sixth of the season.

UBC nearly tied things up exactly a minute later with eight-and-a-half minutes remaining when Emma Hall deflected a pass from Mathea Fischer, but somehow a sprawled out Kish made one of her 34 saves on the night to keep the Cougars in the lead.

Earning their 11^th power play of the game with four minutes remaining, UBC head coach Graham Thomas put Micklash on the bench for the 6-on-4 advantage, desperately seeking the tying marker that would never come.



Kish made another tremendous stop just before the final buzzer to preserve her fourth shutout of the season.

The win makes it three in a row for the Cougars who are now just three points back of the T-Birds, in a tie with Lethbridge for the sixth and final Canada West playoff berth.

UBC and Regina will meet for the final time this regular season Saturday with the season series lying in the balance. Puck drop at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is set for 2:00 p.m. PT.