VANCOUVER – In front of a sold out crowd of more than 5,500 fans, the UBC Thunderbirds ended their eight-game losing streak with a convincing 6-2 win over the visiting Manitoba Bisons at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre Friday night.

Tyler Sandhu scored twice and added two assists while ten different T-Birds hit the scoresheet as with the win, UBC moved into a tie with the Regina Cougars for the sixth and final Canada West playoff berth.

It was a dominant effort for the 'Birds (5-11-5) who scored once in the first, twice in the second, and three times in the third while outshooting the Bisons (9-11-1) 43-22.

After being denied numerous times by Manitoba goaltender Riley Lamb in the opening period, Quinn Benjafield opened scoring with four minutes left with his fifth of the season. The rookie T-Bird powered to the net and out-waited Lamb before sliding the puck past his left pad, sending the capacity crowd into a frenzy.

Despite out chancing the Bisons by a sizeable margin, the 'Birds couldn't beat Lamb again until the late stages of the second when UBC struck twice within a three-minute span. Austin Vetterl finished for his fifth of the season, converting on a beautiful cross-ice pass from Sandhu.

Sandhu then got rewarded with his eighth of the season at the 18:40 mark. Jake Kryski blocked a Manitoba breakout pass attempt before a nifty behind-the-back pass to Sandhu who rifled the puck from one knee to give the 'Birds a 3-0 lead heading into the third.

The Bisons battled back in the final period and cut the deficit to two when Ben Dalke sniped blocker side past Rylan Toth for his third of the season.

But the T-Birds answered back on the power play, courtesy of Maxwell James' fifth. The big forward deflected a Jerret Smith blast from the point to restore the three goal lead at the 9:03 mark.

The Bisons once again got within a pair with a power play goal of their own when Adam Henry wristed his seventh from high in the zone, through plenty of traffic and past a screened Toth.

Still down by two with three minutes remaining and heading to their sixth power play of the game, Manitoba put Lamb on the bench for the extra attacker. But Colton Kehler batted down a neutral zone pass and then quickly fired it into the empty net to seal the victory with his third of the campaign.

Sandhu hit the empty net again a minute later for his second of the night and team-leading ninth of the season.

Toth picked up his fourth win of the year making 20 saves.

The game got testy in the late stages making for what could a feisty affair Saturday when the 'Birds and Bisons meet for the final time with the season series hanging in the balance.

"Every night Manitoba plays I look at the score sheet and it's close, they like their close games they're really good at winning those one -goal games so tomorrow's going to be another grudge match," said UBC head coach Sven Butenschon. "We just need to put this game behind us as quickly as possible and regroup and comeback just as hungry as we did tonight."

Puck drop at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre is set for 2:00 p.m. PT.