VANCOUVER – The UBC Thunderbirds have clinched a berth in the Canada West playoffs after securing the weekend – and season series – sweep over the Manitoba Bisons with a 5-2 win Saturday afternoon at the Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre.

Similar to the night before, the 'Birds and Bisons were tied up heading into the final period with UBC (14-6-2) eventually wearing down the visitors with a trio of goals including captain Chris Douglas' game winner which capped off a six point weekend for the second year forward

Just past the five minute mark of the third, Jonny Lambos held the zone with a keep-in at the blue line before dishing the puck to Douglas who roofed a wrister past Simon Harkness for his fifth goal of the season and third in his last three games.

Despite the Bisons (7-14-1) in desperate need of the equalizer to avoid a sixth straight loss, the T-Birds limited Manitoba to just six shots in the final period while adding on a pair of late goals to seal the victory. Manitoba is still in the playoff race. Their 15 points are just one behind Regina and MacEwan for sixth. The Herd have won the season series against both teams. 

For the second straight game the Bisons opened scoring, this time just 2:58 in when Jonny Hooker scored his fourth of the season off a rebound in tight off a Ryan Gottfried point shot.

The T-Birds got on the board just 29 seconds into the second when Cyle McNabb scored his third shorthanded goal of the season and 11^th overall. The second-year forward intercepted an errant Bisons pass in UBC's zone and got on his horse, breaking through Manitoba's defencemen and beating Harkness far side.

Manitoba managed to make amends later on their four-minute advantage when Hayden Ostir scored his fifth, popping home a Parker Malchuk point-shot rebound.

But after Ostir's tally it was all UBC with the T-Birds scoring the final four goals of the game, including Rask's sixth, a deflection in front from Connor McDonald's shot from the point.

Dorrin Luding got his third win of the season in goal for the 'Birds making 22 saves as UBC outshot the Bisons 53-24.

The T-Birds hit the road to Edmonton next weekend where they'll take on the MacEwan Griffins for UBC's final road series of the regular season. The Bisons will head home to Winnipeg where they'll host the Trinity Western Spartans, the T-Birds' opponent the following week.