The University of Regina men's hockey team dropped a 5-2 decision on Friday night, as the UBC Thunderbirds moved within two points of a Canada West playoff spot.

The Cougars entered the third period trailing 3-2, but were outshot 14-1 in the final frame as UBC added two insurance markers to seal the win.

Austin Vetterl had a pair of goals for the Thunderbirds, who move to 9-13-3 and within two spots of Lethbridge for the sixth and final Canada West playoff spot.

Michael Stenerson (1G, 1A), Luke Lockhart (1G, 1A), Adam Rossignol (2A), Anthony Bardaro (2A) and Manraj Hayer (2A) chipped in with multi-point nights for UBC. Chase Clayton's short-handed marker late in the second period turned out to be the decisive goal.

Tyson Predinchuk (pictured) and Zach McPhee replied for the Cougars (3-20-2).

After Predinchuk opened the scoring just 5:15 into the game, Vetterl answered with two goals in the period to give UBC a 2-1 lead after 20 minutes. McPhee evened the score early in the second with his fourth, but Clayton's marker at 16:13 put UBC up for good.

Lockhart scored his seventh at the 6:29 mark of the third period and assisted on Stenerson's goal at 15:31 to ice the game.

Derek Dun made 18 saves in net for UBC, while Mitch Kilgore stopped 33 shots at the other end of the rink.

The win marks the first of the season for UBC against the Cougars, as the U of R picked up the sweep on home ice back in November.

Regina and UBC will square off again on Saturday evening, with game time set for 6 p.m. Saskatchewan time.