On the road, it's important for the visiting team to get the early lead. It's also crucial to maintain it.
Coquitlam Express managed to get a good start in each of their back-to-back Interior battles last week, only to come out on the short end in both B.C. Hockey League outings.
The two losses halted a five-game unbeaten string and dropped the Express to 5-5-1-0, good for a three-way tie for fifth spot in the eight-team Coastal Conference.
On Thursday, the Express let 2-0 and 3-1 margins evaporate and fell 4-3 to the host Prince George Spruce Kings before 676 fans at Prince George Coliseum.
On Friday, Coquitlam's early 1-0 advantage against the Westside Warriors wasn't nearly enough as they dropped a 5-2 count to the Kelowna-area squad in front of 942 spectators at Royal LePage Place.
The Spruce Kings did most of their damage in all of 87 seconds, during which they rifled in three late goals to take away what appeared to be a certain Coquitlam Express victory.
"Three goals in three shifts, believe it or not, which is pretty hard to stomach in any league," said Express assistant coach Grant Kerr on the team's website. "The game should have been all but over [at 3-1] but, for some inexplicable reason, the team relaxed."
Next, the Express tangle with the conference-leading 7-3-0-2 Surrey Eagles on Friday before meeting the Victoria Grizzlies on Saturday.
Both games are 7 p.m. at the Poirier rink.
