The Illini (9-7-2, 20 pts.) will hit the road for the first time since mid-October this weekend as they travel north to take on the Northern Illinois Huskies (6-9-1, 15 pts.).
How will the series shake out for Illinois? If the first two months of play are any indication, the Illini will head into their Thanksgiving break bye with at least two more points.
Little success against ranked teams
Illinois has faced three currently ranked opponents: No. 1 Jamestown, No. 2 Minot State and No. 18 Purdue Northwest. In those six games, the team went 0-6 and posted a dreadful -18 goal differential.
Against unranked opponents, like the Huskies, the Illini are 9-1-2 and have recorded at least one point in 11 of their 12 contests. All three losses came against the McKendree Bearcats, and the only regulation loss happened in the season’s second game.
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Illinois is currently unranked but briefly held the No. 25 spot earlier this month ahead of its series against McKendree. Illinois dropped both games 4-3 in overtime and fell out of the rankings the next week.
The remaining schedule could prove a boon for an Illinois team struggling to break away from .500 since the first series.
The team has only two more games scheduled against ranked opponents this season: an early February series against No. 18 Purdue Northwest. Illinois State, which still has four remaining games against Illinois, was ranked earlier this year but has since fallen out.
The league’s full, computer-compiled league ranking sheet tabs Illinois at No. 26. This suggests a successful weekend against Northern Illinois could propel the team back into the top 25.
So goes game one…
Another interesting pattern has emerged within the Illini’s nine individual series this season.
Eight of the last nine series have resulted in a sweep for or against Illinois. The opening set against McKendree is the exception to the rule. Illinois took game one, while McKendree won game two.
Last year, the team was a part of eight two-game series sweeps all season. The Illini have matched this number already, with three months of play left.
There have been several close calls, notably the team’s narrow losses to Minot State, shootout victory against Toledo and a pair of overtime defeats at the hands of McKendree. For now, it’s still sweep or be swept for Illinois.
The Illini will look to be on the right side of that mantra against the Huskies this weekend. The games take place at Canlan Sports in West Dundee, Illinois. Puck drop is set for 7:30 p.m. for game one and 5 p.m. for game two. The games will be streamed live on YouTube.
