(Walpole, MA) -- The Walpole Express MJHL team heads into a big three-game weekend starting Nov. 11 with two games against the first-place Portland Pirates and one against the second-place Cranston Reds. Walpole currently sits in fourth in the hotly contested Francis division after a six game-streak in which the team captured six points.

The streak started at the end of the Cyclone showcase in October when the Express beat the Saints 4-1. They followed it up with two outstanding efforts on the road in Hartford. Despite losing both games in overtime, Walpole took two points. When the Express finally returned to home ice they won three games in a row over two weekends, beating the Bulldogs 8-4, and then sweeping the Laconia Leafs 2-1 in OT and 7-0.

In the Laconia game last Saturday night, the Express played solid hockey for 60 minutes outshooting the Leafs. Brendan Norton scored late in the third period on assists from Matic Ovsenar and Jake Thomas to tie Laconia and force overtime. In OT both teams had chances to win the game. With four seconds left, after beating two players in the offensive zone, Abe Edson hit the back of the net to give the Express the victory.

“It seems that last year’s experience with the Leafs has carried over to this year,” said Coach Mike Tenney. “We have played into overtime four out of the last six times we have seen Laconia. It always seems to go down to the wire with them.”

On Sunday, the game did not go down to the wire as the Express came out blazing and schooled Laconia 7-0. The Express grabbed the lead early and put the game out of Laconia’s reach with four first-period goals (scored by Matt Day, Jake Thomas, Nick Balboa and Norton). Laconia changed goaltenders to try and settle the ship, but the Express held resolute. The boys from Walpole added three goals by Sean Hess, Day and Balboa in the second and third periods.

“It was a good response to Saturday night’s dramatic win,” Tenney said. “I felt we took the momentum and ran with it Sunday morning. We have been playing well and I think if we continue our strong play we should have a good chance going into next weekend’s big three game set.”

The Pirates games are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 11 at 1 pm in Portland, and Saturday, Nov. 12 at 8:40 pm at the Iorio Arena in Walpole. On Sunday, Nov 13 the Express face the Cranston Reds in the annual breast-cancer research fundraiser, known as the Pink game, at Iorio Arena at 9:30 am.