Riding a four-game win streak and boasting an 18-point lead atop the Canada West conference's west division having lost just twice in regulation all season, the No. 2 ranked UBC Thunderbirds (19-2-3) don't have much remaining on their to-do list prior to the playoffs. – other than put up a solid weekend performance against the MacEwan Griffins (9-8-5) that is.

This Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31, will be the last opportunity for the T-Birds to do just that as they host their rivals from Edmonton at Father David Bauer Arena.

MacEwan is the only team this season to post multiple wins against the Thunderbirds, managing a 4-2 opening night result in Vancouver and an overtime victory in Edmonton back in mid-November. In both cases, the T-Birds managed to bounce back with a decisive win the following day, but with the post-season looming large, the urgency to exorcise those demons is high.



"MacEwan's played us really tough all year, even last year, so I think the guys know that we can't lose our focus because they're going to come in here with something to prove," said UBC head coach, Sven Butenschon prior to his team's final home series of the regular season. "They could fight for that second playoff spot in the division so we're probably going to see the best version of them."

The Griffins currently hold down that second playoff seed with a one-point gap over the Alberta Golden Bears.

Coming off a pair of overtime losses to Manitoba last weekend, the Griffins will be even more eager to dig deep to help secure their first ever home ice playoff berth.

Including last season where the Griffins pushed UBC to a third game in their conference quarter-final, MacEwan has won four of their last eight meetings with the T-Birds.



"They know how to play incredible defence, they're incredibly disciplined away from the puck, they don't get into a track meet," Butenschon said of the Griffins' commitment to protecting their own house. "They got some great top-end guys that have put up some big points this year, they have a solid recruiting class with forwards and defencemen. I would say they just know who they are, they have a really good team identity."

The last two weeks in particular, the T-Birds have been playing to their own team identity, overwhelming the opposition with scoring chances and owning control of the puck generally, while playing consistently up-tempo.

In an effort to get their top-end offensive performers some more ice time while also keeping things fresh on the back end, the 'Birds have transitioned to lining up with seven defencemen and 11 forwards of late, with successful results.

"We are really deep on defence with veteran guys who have taken us to high levels and national tournaments like Jonny Lambos and Matthew Smith and Ben Keon. There's a rotation there and I just think all those guys deserve to be in the room. I talk about culture all the time, I talk about positive vibes and those guys are a huge part of that. I kind of need them on the ice, but I really need them in the room."



The other remaining item for UBC to check-off their to-do list is securing first overall in the conference. Having already secured first in the west division and a bye through the quarter-finals, the 'Birds are seven points up on both Mount Royal and Calgary in their bid to secure home ice throughout the Canada West playoffs.

The Dinos do have a pair of games in hand on the T-Birds but Calgary and Mount Royal battle each other twice this weekend.

At the end of the day, the 'Birds hold control of their own fate and need to take full advantage of their last home weekend for a month (the Canada West semifinals don't begin until February 27).

Puck drop Friday at Father David Bauer Arena is set for 7:00 p.m. with Saturday's final regular season home game scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Tickets are available online and both games will be streamed live on Canada West TV.