The road to the Gas Drive Cup officially begins Thursday night for the Okotoks Oilers as they open up their South Division Quarterfinal series against the Calgary Canucks at home.

The Oilers will look to put their recent regular season woes aside against a stingy Canucks team that took four straight contests from the green and gold including three straight in February.

Head Coach James Poole says you can throw out the records and stats out the window as the season everyone plays for begins now.

"It's a brand new season, I think our players are excited about that fact and that we lost three recent games to the Canucks doesn't carry a whole lot of weight come playoff time but I think if anything it's a motivation factor for our players that we have something to prove," he says.

Poole says when it comes down to it special teams will be a difference maker in the series.

"The three games we played recently against the Canucks wasn't very good, on both sides our powerplay was very flat and our penalty kill was uncommitted and those will have to improve and goaltending is going to be a huge factor going as it is anytime you get into playoffs."

The Oilers will have home ice advantage for the first round and Poole says that's going to be important in the short best of 5 series.

"Ultimately our players are going to have to be committed and it's going to come down to likely the team that wants it more and that's willing to pay the price for it. But I think our players are in a good state of mind right now we're excited about tomorrow and rearing to get into playoff action."

Puck-drop is 7 P.M. at Centennial Arena. Playoff tickets are available here.

You can find the full schedule below.

    Game 1- - Thursday, March 10 @ Okotoks 7:00 pm
    Game 2 - Friday, March 11 @ Okotoks 7:00 pm
    Game 3 - Sunday, March 13 @ Calgary 7:00pm
    Game 4- Monday March 14 @ Calgary 7:00pm *
    Game 5 - Wednesday, March 16 @ Okotoks 7:00pm*

    * If Necessary (All radio games will start 15 minutes prior to puckdrop)