The Langley 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 Langley a 4-3 victory over the Coquitlam Express at the Langley 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.
Langley, 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 Langley Events Centre on Thursday (Feb. 3).
Coquitlam 4 Langley 3
The Express struck for two power-play goals, including the eventual game-winner early in the third, to edge Langley 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 Langley'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 Langley 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 Langley back on even terms in the second period.