Nick Fabbrini’s message may not have been clear enough after Friday night’s 5-2 victory over the Robert Morris Eagles. The head coach of the Illinois hockey team said in order to secure the sweep, the Illini (17-13-1) were going to have to come out Saturday with more intensity than the team had on Friday.

Things didn’t go as planned for the Illini.

Fabbrini watched his team snap a five-game losing streak, only to end up back in the losing column the next night, falling 4-3.

“We need to understand that after you win on Friday, it’s not going to be easier on Saturday night,” Fabbrini said. “When you play good teams like we do every weekend, they’re not going to want to leave here empty-handed. That’s something that we’ve got to figure out.”

After enjoying a two-goal first period Friday, Illinois faltered Saturday with goaltender Joe Olen allowing three goals in the first period. Olen has been recovering from a groin injury suffered earlier this season and sat out half of Friday’s game as a precaution.

Illinois regrouped during the first intermission Saturday and mounted a comeback tying the game in the third period. However, Robert Morris killed the Illini’s momentum with a goal with three minutes remaining in the game.

Saturday’s loss was Illinois’ third home loss this season. All three home losses have been the second game of each series. Fabbrini believed Illinois’ first 20 minutes cost them a sweep and acknowledged the team’s inconsistency to finish off opponents.

“We’ve got to be able to match or exceed that intensity coming off the win,” Fabbrini said. “We can’t be satisfied, we can’t get complacent because when we do, that’s what happens.”

Securing a sweep can be tough, especially when the opponent is a two-hour drive away.

Most of the Illini are familiar with the players on Robert Morris. Two years ago, Illinois winger James McGing roomed with Robert Morris’ Nathan Chasteen while playing juniors for the Springfield Blues.

The intensified rivalry caused for a physical series. Forward Chris Lozinak took a hit into the boards and was then pinned to the ground for a few seconds by a Robert Morris skater. Lozinak said that’s just part of the game.

“From start to finish, it’s been a battle,” Lozinak said. “We just have to play, let the refs do their job and take care of what we can take care of on the ice.”

Fabbrini thought the officiating could have been improved.

“I didn’t think (the referee) called a great game necessarily, but he was consistent, for the most part, which is all you can really ask for,” he said. “He’s definitely not the reason we lost the game, he didn’t give up three goals in the first period.”

Even though this weekend was a tale of two games, Illinois believes ending its five-game losing streak made it a positive weekend.

“That was huge for us, we really needed to turn around,” Lozinak said. “The fact that we battled this hard is definitely a positive. We definitely needed it, and against the number six or seven team in the nation, it’s definitely nothing to look down on.”

Matt can be reached at [email protected] and on Twitter

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