It’s back to the drawing board for the No.1 Illini men’s hockey club.

After pulling out a victory in their first tough game of the season against Eastern Michigan, the Illini head into this weekend’s games with their mind set on improving and regaining dominant form.

The Illini squeaked by the Eagles last Saturday night, winning by just one goal. In the process the Illini allowed seven goals – the most they have allowed since January of last season – when the Illini were defeated 7-3 by the University of Michigan-Dearborn.

Illinois knows it needs to improve on certain aspects of the game if they are to avoid another scare and remain undefeated.

“There are a lot of things we need to work on,” team captain Steve Krates said. “We will be working a lot on our penalty kill and defensive zone this week, because those are the two big things that win and lose games for a team.”

They are going to have to work on it if they are going to improve upon the five power-play goals scored by Eastern Michigan. It was the most goals allowed by an Illini penalty-kill unit since Nov. 18, 2002, when Minot State scored all five of its goals on the power play.

However, the players are looking back at the game as something they can learn from for the future.

“We’re confident because it was a big learning experience for us,” junior goaltender Mike DeGeorge said. “Any game you need eight goals to win is obviously a kind of a bonding experience for the team, in the sense that we all pulled together and did what we needed to win the game.”

But overall the Illini came away with two wins and eight points in the conference, moving them into a second place tie with Iowa State, just behind Ohio University, who has played more conference games than the Illini.

“We’re fortunate enough to have veterans and even the rookies to pick up the slack and still pull out a win,” DeGeorge said. “Two W’s is all that matters in the long run.”

The Illini not only look to extend their winning streak to 14 games this weekend when Indiana University comes to town to play a set of games Friday and Saturday at 7p.m. at the University of Illinois Ice Arena, but they could also make history.

With two wins head coach Chad Cassel would earn his 210th victory as Illini men’s hockey coach, tying him for the all-time victory record for an Illinois men’s hockey coach.

“It just adds more incentive for us to win,” Krates said. “It’s an honor to play for a great coach like Chad, who has set a lot of records.”

Division-II Indiana, however, has upset on its mind. Led by junior forwards Chad Fiala and Reed Schafer, the Hoosiers bring a 6-2 record and a three-game winning streak.

“We don’t know much about them,” Krates said “They are a very good Division-II team and have given some teams some trouble this year, so we have to come out like it’s just another game.”