The 91Ô´´ Chiefs slipped closer to fourth place than second place after back-to-back losses against the Coastal Conference's bottom dwellers.
The junior A Chiefs began the weekend well enough, with Mike Tebbutt's second goal of the game snapping a tie with less than a minute remaining and giving 91Ô´´ a 4-3 victory over the Coquitlam Express at the 91Ô´´ Events Centre in B.C. Hockey League action.
But the Express struck back on Friday night, this time at the Coquitlam Sports Centre, winning by that same 4-3 score.
And the weekend got even worse for the Chiefs as they dropped a 4-2 home game to the Cowichan Valley Capitals. The game seemed destined for overtime before the Capitals snapped the tie with less than two minutes remaining and then added an empty-net goal.
The Express and the Capitals are in a race for the final Coastal Conference playoff spot as both teams have 46 points with three weeks remaining in the regular season.
91Ô´´, which is guaranteed to be playing in the post-season, has 62 points to sit third — five back of second-place Surrey but only three ahead of the fourth-place Victoria Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies visit the 91Ô´´ Events Centre on Thursday (Feb. 3).
Coquitlam 4 91Ô´´ 3
The Express struck for two power-play goals, including the eventual game-winner early in the third, to edge 91Ô´´ by one goal.
Michael Krgovich scored the only goal of the first period to give the Express a 1-0 lead.
Both teams struck twice in the second period, with 91Ô´´'s Josh Myers and Josh Hansen scoring for the visitors, while Alex Petan and Destry Straight replied for the Express.
Mark Begert stretched the lead to 4-2 early in the third before Tim Daly scored late.
Cowichan Valley 4 91Ô´´ 2
With less than two minutes remaining, Tyler Matheson snapped a 2-2 tie and Jordan Grant sealed the victory with an empty-net goal.
Myers opened the scoring with a power-play tally, but Grant and Matheson put the visitors ahead before intermission.
Chiefs captain Trevor Gerling got 91Ô´´ back on even terms in the second period.