After a flash in the pan last weekend, Illinois hockey (4-5-0) was cooking as it took a two-game sweep over Roosevelt University (5-2-1). The Illini walked away with an impressive 5-2 win in Champaign on Friday night and a tighter 4-3 win in Bensenville, Illinois on Saturday.
Defense was the name of the game for the Illini on Friday, but not in the way the media has been saying all season. Three of the Illini’s five goals Friday night were scored by primary defenders with one each coming from junior Joe Dorion, sophomore Matthew McDonald and senior Atticus Helfer respectively.
Head coach John Opilka believes this is not purely coincidence, but more the result of the Illini’s new puck-moving philosophy.
“We have put an emphasis on moving pucks low to high and getting it to the net quickly,” Opilka said. “This forces teams to defend the whole zone instead of just the tops of the circle down. Especially on our big ice sheet, there’s a lot more time and space you have to defend.”
Getting the puck to the net quickly was paid off exponentially, as the Illini have been able to capitalize on the power play far more often than earlier in the season. Three of Friday’s goals came on the power play along with two more on Saturday. That’s one of the many positives to come out of this weekend that Illinois can bring with it into the rest of the season.
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“Blocking shots, being disciplined, winning the blue lines, playing smart and being willing to sacrifice for the team,” Opilka said. “That’s how you give yourself a chance to win.”
Sophomore forward Greg Etingen was the main star of the weekend. The Buffalo Grove native finished the weekend with six total points including his first career hat trick on Saturday night. Etingen has quickly emerged as a star for the Illini just when they needed one most, and it seems like the team has rallied behind him with their play.
“I was able to have good chemistry with my line and the power play,” Etingen said. “It was special for me to score my first hat trick Saturday night with family and friends in attendance. Both of these wins were a result of a team effort.”
Another familiar name who really stepped up this weekend was junior goaltender Nolan Woodring, who got the start in both games this weekend and came home with two wins on his record. Woodring reeled in 66 saves on 71 shots this weekend for an impressive save percentage of 0.930, well upwards of the 0.898 he had going into this weekend.
The Illini (6-5-0) will lace up their skates next weekend after a short ride to Bloomington-Normal for an in-state rivalry series with the Illinois State Redbirds (7-7-0). Both games will be at Grossing Motors Arena at 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
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