With just four games left in the regular season and ground to make up in order to get back into a playoff spot, the UBC Thunderbirds face their biggest road trip of the season when they face the Lethbridge Pronghorns Friday and Saturday, January 31^st and February 1^st at the Nicholas Sheran Ice Centre.

The T-Birds (6-13-5) enter their final road series of the season two points back of the Regina Cougars for the sixth and final Canada West playoff berth. The fact remains the 'Birds will need help on the out of town scoreboard the rest of the way but they can't let that detract from the fact they also still need to put up wins in a hurry.

Lethbridge (5-16-3) currently sits four points behind UBC in last, still not mathematically eliminated from playoff contention but their lives hang in the balance this weekend for what should make for an entertaining pair of battles between two desperate teams.



The last time these two met it wasn't pretty for the Pronghorns as the 'Birds earned the weekend sweep in Vancouver in mid-November, outscoring Lethbridge by a combined 12-1. Since then, the 'Horns have put up just one win.

UBC won't be fooled by the standings, however, especially since they're in the 'Horns' own barn where they have managed four of their five wins along with a couple of overtime losses, one each to Calgary and Mount Royal.

Puck drop for Friday night's invaluable two points is set for 6:00 p.m. PT with Saturday's final meeting of the season scheduled for 12:00 p.m. PT.
 

Last Action

The 'Birds saw a three-game point streak come to an end in heartbreaking fashion last Friday in Saskatoon when the Huskies scored the game winner with just over a minute remaining in regulation, handing UBC a 3-2 loss. The T-Birds followed up with a 5-2 loss the following night as Saskatchewan completed the season series sweep.



Lethbridge saw their current losing streak extend to eight games last weekend but the Pronghorns did come away from their series against Mount Royal with a pair of points, falling 3-2 in double overtime and 4-3 in a shootout.
 

Players to Watch

Jarret Tyszka (#11, D) – Since making his Thunderbirds debut at the beginning of January, Tyszka has been incredibly impactful at both ends of the ice. The former Montreal Canadiens draft pick was rewarded with his first Canada West goal last Friday in Saskatoon and set up Carter Popoff on the power play Saturday.



Tyler Sandhu (#19, F) – The third-year forward has put up six points in his last four games including a two goal, two assist effort against the Bisons at the Winter Classic on January 17^th. Sandhu has set a new Canada West career high with nine goals on the season. He currently sits tied with Austin Vetterl for the team scoring lead with 17 points.
 

Coach's Take

The T-Birds have a 2-4-2 record in January but of those six losses, only one has been by more than one goal. The team has been playing their best hockey of the season and, despite those losses, the belief in the ability to turn those numbers around is still very much alive.

"We're not going to try anything outrageous or new right now, we're just going to focus on the things we do well and eventually I think you'll get rewarded," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "We got to go take care of business and then we'll scoreboard watch a little bit but I still feel destiny is in our own hands."



This season is eerily similar to three years ago when the 'Birds found themselves outside the playoff picture looking in with four games remaining, only to go on to win out and clinch the final berth. It's an experience the coaching staff and veteran players are looking back on given their current situation.

"We got to have a playoff mindset right now and once we're in, it will be an advantage for us since we're already playing that way," said a confident Butenschon who also knows this weekend will be anything but easy. "It's kind of a tough environment, it's a unique arena and you never know what to expect from them so we're going to be prepared for anything. But by saying that, you can't play scared, but you have to play smart. We have to be a little bit smarter than we were in Saskatchewan, limit mistakes in the D zone, limit some puck turnovers at the blue line and then you give yourself a really good chance."