It was one of those nights teams have during every long season when nothing goes right no matter how much you try.
For the West Kelowna Warriors, that night was Saturday in a 4-2 loss to the visiting Coquitlam Express.
"It's unfortunate that has to happen at home. I don't know what to say," says Warriors head coach Rylan Ferster.
"It's one of those games when nothing is going to go right – you look at your effort and guys maybe try to do too much. I thought we came out and had a very good first shift and then we have two penalties in the first five minutes and it was downhill from there."
Coquitlam scored three times in the opening period and could have had many more if not for the heroics of netminder Tyler Briggs who returned to the line-up after missing five games with a virus.
Ferster admitted the score could have been 10-1 after one had it not been for the play of Briggs.
"I thought it was one of his best games for us tonight because we hung him out to dry more than we ever have all year," says Ferster.
"We're a pretty good defensive team for the most part but tonight we hung him out to dry something fierce. He's so calm back there, he just makes saves but we have to be better."
Ferster says if there was someone that should be upset it was Briggs who faced 23 shots in the opening period and 51 over the course of 60 minutes.
David Pope did get one back for the Warriors with 70 seconds left in the opening period and it looked like the club may have some life early in the second, however, a power-play goal less than two minutes into the middle frame and an anemic Warriors power-play that generated nothing on a three minute advantage snuffed out any hope of a comeback.
Matt Anholt brought the Warriors to within two on a power-play with three minutes left but, despite some sustained pressure and numerous chances, the Warriors were unable to get a third puck behind Coquitlam netminder Cole Huggins.
Philip Zielonka paced the Express with a pair of goals while John Siemer picked up three assists.
The loss was the third in a row for the Warriors (10-7-1-6) who remain third in the tight Interior Division, a point back of second place Merritt and nine behind division leading Penticton.
The Warriors return to action next Friday night when they host the surging Vernon Vipers.
Vernon and Salmon Arm sit deadlocked for fourth in the interior, just three points in back of the Warriors.
Revel in the pain at The General’s Report.
