Even Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning would be jealous of the numbers the Illini hockey club put up against Western Michigan. Illinois scored 23 times with 14 different players in two games Nov. 19 and 20.

The potent Illini offense smoked the Stallions 10-2 and 13-5 – scores more reminiscent of football than hockey. Illinois remains flawless in league play (8-0) and is unbeaten in its last 11 games. On the flipside, Western Michigan has yet to win a game this season.

Friday, the Stallions were able to grab a one-goal lead in the opening minutes of the game, but it quickly evaporated.

“We knew going in that (Western Michigan) hadn’t won a game all year and even though we didn’t take them lightly, it’s still somewhere in the back of your head,” junior forward Mike Roesch said. “It was a wake-up call.”

Between the rookies and the power play, the Illini scored four goals in the remaining minutes of the first period and led Western Michigan for the remainder of the series – more than 118 minutes.

The second period began the same way as the first, with Western Michigan scoring early. But once again the Illini struck back, this time with the veterans, and extended their lead to five. Illinois added three more points in the third period and ended the game red hot, scoring on 40 percent of their shots.

Saturday, Illinois went right back to work, dominating Western Michigan in all facets. Not only did the Illini blast off to a 5-0 lead in the first period, but they also only allowed four shots on goal. By the end of the second period, it was 10-1 and the Illini began to ease up. As a result, the Stallions scored four goals to open the third period before Illini Head Coach Chad Cassel called a timeout.

“It was late in the weekend with a big lead and we stopped forechecking and hitting,” Roesch said. “That’s something we can’t have. We can’t develop bad habits heading into an important weekend (against Ohio).”

Illinois stopped the bleeding with three goals, completing the eight-point sweep. Both Roesch and senior forward Jim Rogers added 10 points to the dismantling of the Stallions. Roesch continues to lead the Illini in scoring, and in 14 games has almost as many goals (18) as he did all last season (22).

“The main difference is my linemates,” Roesch said. “We’ve been playing together all year, which helps, because last year I was bounced around between different lines, and we are just playing really well together,” Roesch said.

With the wins, the Illini moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Central States Collegiate Hockey League, but both Robert Morris College and Michigan-Dearborn have played more games. To capture first place, the Illini will have to defeat the defending national champion, the Ohio Bobcats, this weekend in Champaign.

Senior forward Scott Kohler said the series against the Bobcats will go a long way in determining who wins the league, but with half the season left, “anything can happen.” Ohio’s a well-coached, strong, defensive team, and will be tough, junior forward Steve Krates said.

“They are the defending national champions for a reason,” he said. “The fact that they have beat us in the past makes these games really important for us.”