It's not a coincidence, really. Had Bitcoin been oversold when the Gox DDoS happened, it would have fallen way less. Conversely, when it breaks out above exponential, any minor issue becomes an excuse for a knife-down. If it weren't Gox it would've just been some other minor thing.
Basically riding high (on or above the channel) is cruising for a bruising, and riding low is coiling the spring to be set off by any old good-news excuse.
Think you're right a coiled or stretched spring is a good analogy, the pressure is there to move up or down, all thats needed is the spark to provoke it.
Love your username btw! hehe