Looking for an end to their longest losing skid of the season, the UBC Thunderbirds hit the road for the first time in 2020 for a pivotal weekend series with the suddenly surging Regina Cougars January 10^th and 11^th at the Co-Operators Centre.

With just 10 games remaining in the regular season, the T-Birds enter this weekend hanging onto the sixth and final Canada West playoff berth, just one point ahead of the Lethbridge Pronghorns and just two ahead of Regina.

After compiling just two wins in their first 16 games, the Cougars started the New Year off with a bang, sweeping last weekend's home series against the Pronghorns. Regina also managed to take a point off the second place Calgary Dinos in their final weekend before the December break.



The 'Birds played perhaps their best weekend of hockey to date this season against the Dinos last week but have only one point to show for it. More of the same on the road in Saskatchewan's capital this weekend and the results may be very different. The 'Birds will need to hope that's the case since the points up for grabs against Regina may very well go a long way to determining UBC's playoff fate.

Back in October, the T-Birds and Cougars split their weekend series in Vancouver. Whoever is able to earn the season series edge by Saturday night has a clear upper hand if a tie-break scenario for a playoff berth plays out.

Puck drop Friday at the Co-Operators Centre goes at 5:00 p.m. PT. Saturday's final battle between the 'Birds and Cougars is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. PT.


 

Last Action

UBC suffered a shutout loss to open up 2020 last weekend at home to Calgary but bounced back with a come-from-behind third period Saturday to force overtime, eventually falling 3-2 in a shootout.

Regina earned a pair of 4-1 wins over the Pronghorns to secure their first weekend sweep of the season, pulling within two points of the final Canada West playoff berth, currently held by the T-Birds.
 

Players to Watch

Jake Kryski (#14, F) – With a pair of assists last Saturday against the Dinos, Kryski made it his fourth multi-point game of the season. Now with two goals and nine assists, the former Calgary Hitmen forward leads all T-Bird rookies with 11 points and is tied with Tyler Sandhu for second in team scoring.


 
Rylan Toth (#34, G) – UBC's veteran goaltender was very impressive between the pipes last weekend, allowing just three combined goals against along with a .950 save percentage. In his last five games, the Saskatoon product has a .921 save percentage. Toth has played more minutes this season than any other goaltender in the Canada West.
 

Coach's Take

The 'Birds have not seen results consistent with the way they've been playing throughout portions of the season, but one thing's for sure, and that's the need for urgency.

"We've put ourselves in this situation, one way or another we have to come out with a couple wins this weekend," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "Now that we're in the second half it's time to just get the points and produce, there's no more excuses, you just have to find a way."

The analytics look favourable for the 'Birds of late, especially looking at last weekend against the Dinos. The feeling is if they play the same way, the dam just might finally break.



"We're putting a lot of pucks on net, we're getting to the middle of the ice, we're breaking out of our own zone cleaner so there's lots of good stuff there," explained Butenschon. "If we can get a little bit of puck luck, guys are really due to break out."

As for the Cougars, UBC knows they've got their work cut out for them against a team with some renewed confidence.

"They seem to have figured something out but that doesn't take away from what we have to do and we have to take another step here. We played hard against Calgary, we were in both games, we probably deserved better. We just have to continue to do the little things, respect our opponent and not let up."