Before this week, the Illinois hockey team has emerged with four straight splits, winning each time on Friday but falling in the Saturday game.

This last weekend against No. 8 Oklahoma, the Illini couldn’t even muster that and were swept by the Sooners in their first games after a week off for Thanksgiving. Illinois on Friday was defeated 4-1, and it suffered a 5-3 loss Saturday.

“I think it was the fact we were off last week,” defenseman Chad Himley said. “The first period didn’t go our way (Friday) and that kind of set the tone.”

While the Illini looked lethargic when the puck dropped Friday, the Sooners came out of the gate with energy and buried a goal just over three minutes into the game to give them a 1-0 lead.

Illinois (12-7-2) not only suffered on the scoreboard but in the penalty box as well. Forward Matt Welch committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty as the first period ended, which directly led to a Sooners power-play goal 17 seconds into the second frame. 

“The penalties Welch took in the first are unacceptable,” head coach Nick Fabbrini said. also speaking of an early slashing penalty. “Going after a guy after the buzzer … there’s not a lot of upside to that.”

Down 2-0, the Illini would get some life late in the period when freshman John Olen hammered home a one-timer from Scott Barrera to bring the score within one.

The third period was tense as both sides had a multitude of chances off rebounds and in front of the net, but it was Oklahoma’s Darrell Boldon who punched home the goal to put the game out of reach with only 2 minutes and 48 seconds remaining. The Sooners would add another goal barely a minute later to secure a 4-1 final.

“There are a lot of things we need to tighten up, especially defensively,” Fabbrini said. “We gave up three five-on-five goals (Friday). That’s way too many. We shouldn’t be giving up any five-on-five goals.”

Saturday’s game started with fireworks early on. On the first shift, Welch buried a goal only 31 seconds in to get the Illini offense going.

With the crowd and much of the Illini bench still celebrating, Oklahoma’s Brandon Dennis slipped through the defense and tied the game 15 seconds later — his third goal on the weekend. 

Still in the first period with the score now 2-1 in favor of Oklahoma, Olen was at it again on the Illini power play. Taking the puck from behind his own net, Olen handled past the blue line where he weaved in and out of two defenders. With no one left in front, Olen slammed home the equalizer for the coast-to-coast finish.

The Illini would briefly take the lead in the second after a JT Turner goal, but the Sooners would knot up the game less than two minutes later. In the third, just like Friday’s game, the Sooners notched late goals when it mattered, scoring twice in the frame to claim a 5-3 victory.

“The two or three shifts after a goal are some of the most important in the game,” Fabbrini said. “All of the momentum you build by scoring is lost when they come back and score right away.”

After the first game against Iowa State on Oct. 26, the Illini held a 9-1-2 record. Since that victory, Illinois is just 3-6-0 — losers of its past three games. Despite the recent struggles, captain Austin Bostock said he sees a silver lining.

“I’m glad we’re going through this slump now,” Bostock said. “Rather than in March, when we’re going to have to win four games in five nights (at the ACHA tournament).”

Stephen can be reached at [email protected] and @steve_bourbon.