REGINA, Sask. – Tian Rask scored the game winner with less than seven minutes remaining in the third period as the UBC Thunderbirds earned a gritty 4-3 road win against the host Regina Cougars Saturday afternoon, splitting the weekend series.

The T-Birds (12-3-1) took a 2-0 lead by the midpoint of the opening frame, but the Cougars (8-9-1) battled back to tie twice before Rask buried his sixth of the season. Ethan Anders made 25 saves for his second win of the campaign.

"It sure was fun to watch," said UBC Head Coach Sven Butenschon whose team played with just five defenceman Saturday. "And you have to remember Shaun Dosanjh and Jackson Caller haven't played much hockey in a long time because they've been injured and for them to step in and be part of the five D was absolutely impressive. It was probably one of the greasiest games I've seen our group play in a few years. If you want to win in the playoffs that's kind of what it's going to be like."

Chris Douglas opened scoring for the 'Birds 7:03 into the first, slipping the puck five-hole past Brandon Holtby for his team-leading ninth of the season.

Less than three minutes later, Scott Atkinson doubled UBC's lead when he took advantage of a turnover which led to his fifth. Holtby came out of his crease to play the puck along the boards but was quickly pressured by Rask. The Regina goaltender then ended up giving it right to Atkinson who brought it out front and tucked it into the wide open net.

The Cougars did cut into the T-Birds lead before the break with Tanner Sidaway's third of the season.

Sidaway ended up tying the game 3:26 into the second with his second of the game, but UBC answered back 61 seconds later to restore their lead with Jake Kryski's sixth. The second year forward took a beautiful feed from Tyler Sandhu before perfectly placing the puck over Holtby's left shoulder.

Regina once again got the game evened up, this time thanks to a Ben Duperreault power play tally at the 15:49 mark, as the game headed to the third tied at three.

Still even well into the final period, the 'Birds kept pressing and eventually got rewarded. After spending the better part of two minutes in the Regina zone, Rask scored the winner with 6:35 remaining in the third, jamming in a rebound with plenty of traffic around Holtby.

Anders, the Regina native, was terrific in the final 20 minutes, making 10 of his 25 saves, keeping cool in the dying moments when the Cougars swarmed the crease with the extra attacker out in search of the tying goal they were unable to find.

"He hasn't played in a long time either and when we wanted to get him in there he had an injury himself, so some bad luck for the kid but he works hard in practice and gives himself a chance every time he gets in there," said Butenschon of his rookie netminder. "The boys battled hard for him and they really wanted to get that win for him in his hometown."

Bouncing back to end a two-game slide, the 'Birds move back into a tie with the Golden Bears for first in the Canada West, pending the result of Saturday night's Alberta game against the Calgary Dinos who now sit four points back in third place.

With just four games remaining in the regular season for UBC, plenty remains to be decided as the 'Birds continue to hunt down a home playoff berth.

"I think (a game like Saturday) gives you experience so the next time we're in one of those games, we'll have learned from this weekend," added Butenschon. "Even yesterday's game, we weren't able to find another gear and get that shot block or bang in a rebound when you're getting cross-checked in the back. Next time, we'll just be a little more comfortable, the belief will be there in the group. They're really important, valuable lessons if you want to go deep in the playoffs, you need those kind of games."

Regina currently holds down the conference's sixth and final playoff berth with just two games remaining. The Cougars have a six point advantage over the seventh place Bisons although Manitoba has a whopping four games in hand.

The 'Birds head back on the road next weekend to face the Mount Royal Cougars before closing out the Canada West regular season February 11 and 12 at home to the Trinity Western Spartans.