One down, two to go.

The consensus preseason goals from the Illinois hockey team were to win the CSCHL regular-season title, the CSCHL Tournament and the ACHA National Championship. With last weekend’s sweep of then-No. 4 Robert Morris, the Illini (22-9-2) checked off the first item on their list and have their sights on the second.

This weekend marks the CSCHL Tournament in Athens, Ohio, at Ohio University, featuring some of the top talent in all of the ACHA. The conference boasts four of the nation’s top-nine teams and five of the country’s top 12.

“We’ve beaten everyone in the conference at least twice,” forward John Scully said. “We feel like we’re the best team in the conference.”

Thanks to the sweep over Robert Morris, No. 7 Illinois vaulted to the top of the conference standings, giving the team a first-round bye. There is uncertainty what team will face the Illini on Saturday in the second round. One thing that is certain, however, is that Illinois will be shorthanded. 

At the end of the first period in last Saturday’s game against Robert Morris, forward Scott Barrera dropped the gloves for a fight — an automatic ejection and one-game suspension from the league. Additionally, Barrera’s linemate, Derek Schultz, will be out after injuring his shoulder last weekend.

“It’s going to put an onus on everyone to step up,” head coach Nick Fabbrini said. “We’re not going to have either of our top-line wingers. Everybody else is going to have to step up.”

A silver lining in the situation is that Illinois has been shorthanded before. After a multi-player brawl against Lindenwood earlier this season, the Illini were tasked with going on the road to then-No. 3 Ohio on Nov. 16.

With four players suspended, including two of the team’s top-four point leaders, the Illini pulled out an improbable 3-2 victory in overtime. With a season’s worth of experience playing with guys in and out of the lineup, Fabbrini is confident they will manage Barrera’s absence successfully.

“All year, we necessarily haven’t had our full roster,” Fabbrini said. “Schultz has only played 11 games and (defenseman Josh) Baker has played four shifts all year.”

If the Illini win Saturday, they will play in the title game Sunday afternoon. With the bye in the first round, the team will get to travel and rest Friday while the other teams slug it out on the ice.

“Hopefully, they take a chunk out of each other. I hope they play six overtimes,” Fabbrini joked.

Even though the national bracket is set in stone — Illinois will face Delaware on March 2 — the games this weekend will be the most pressure-packed to date. 

“It’s basically a one-day season, a two-day season,” Scully said. “Each shot you get on net, it’s a chance to win the game.”

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