EDMONTON - Tied at three entering the third period, the U SPORTS #2 ranked UBC Thunderbirds pulled away from the Golden Bears with a dominant third period en route to a 7-3 win. 

UBC outshot Alberta 37-19, including 13-6 in the third period. The Thunderbirds have now won six-straight over the Bears, and eight of the last nine meetings. 

The loss drops Alberta (10-11-4) one point behind MacEwan for the second seed in the West Division, and a home quarter-final series, with three conference games remaining. UBC extends their lead atop the division, and now sports a 22-2-3 record and 47 points through 25 games. 

Despite the loss, Dylan Ruptash paced Alberta offensively with two goals, scoring once on the power play and once at even strength to account for two-thirds of the Golden Bears offence. Jayden Joly added Alberta's other goal late in the first period. 

For UBC, Ty Thorpe delivered a dominant performance with two goals and two assists, driving the Thunderbirds' offence throughout the night. Jake Lee added two power-play goals in the third period, while Chris Douglas chipped in a short-handed goal and an assist. Goaltender Brett Mirwald stopped 16 shots to earn the win.

The opening frame was fast-paced and evenly contested. UBC opened the scoring at 8:53 with a short-handed goal, as Chris Douglas finished a feed from Alex Serraglio to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. Alberta responded quickly on the power play, when Ruptash wired home a setup from Owen Pederson and Blake Gustafson to even the game.

Momentum briefly swung Alberta's way just over a minute later, as Joly scored his third of the season to give Alberta a 2-1 lead. 

UBC answered before the intermission, with Thorpe scoring his first of two, sending the game into the intermission tied 2-2. 

Alberta restored their lead early in the second. Just three minutes in, Ruptash struck again, finishing a clean passing sequence from Gleb Tkach and Dawson Davidson to make it 3-2.

The lead lasted until the final two minutes of the second, as Thorpe tied the game with his second of the night, and ninth of the season. 

UBC took control early in the final frame. Just 1:55 in, Ben Kotylak gave the Thunderbirds the lead, converting a feed from James Form and Thorpe. Discipline proved costly for Alberta as the period wore on. UBC capitalized on three separate power plays, with Reilley Kotai scoring at 11:54, followed by back-to-back goals from Jake Lee at 17:03 and 18:04, sealing the 7-3 result.

The rematch is set for 7:00 p.m. tomorrow night at Clare Drake Arena.