While fans showing up to this weekend’s series against a rival Lindenwood team may be looking for fights to break out on the ice, the Illini hockey team will be looking more for a chance to break out of a grueling slump.

The best opportunity for the Illini to end their six-game losing streak comes this weekend against a similarly struggling Lindenwood team.

Illinois (6-5-1) has struggled through one of the nation’s toughest schedules, getting swept by No. 2 Arizona State, No. 5 Iowa State and No. 6 Robert Morris, while the No. 10 Lions (3-5-0) have faced a challenging schedule of their own, losing games to No. 1 Minot State, No. 3 Oklahoma and No. 11 Central Oklahoma.

The two teams have built a rivalry over the years, and the games between them have been trademarked by heavy hits, fights and a lot of penalties. Last season, eight players were ejected from a single game and four Illini were slapped with suspensions after fights broke out on and off the ice, even on the Lindenwood bench.

With most players involved in last season’s fights still playing this season, such as the Illini’s Mario Pacheco and Lindenwood’s Cody Barra, the anticipated match-up isn’t expected to be any different.

But with penalty troubles allowing opposing teams opportunities to score, the young Illini team will have to mature quickly and stay out of the penalty box in order to keep the pressure of the Illini goaltenders, who faced 43 shots in Saturday’s 5-1 loss to No. 6 Robert Morris.

Senior goaltender Nick Clarke has been known to antagonize opposing teams’ players when crowded in his crease, pushing skaters and checking them with his stick. Clarke said the Illini will have to keep their emotions in check and focus on scoring goals, rather than putting on big hits.

“They’re a tough team,” Clarke said. “We’ll have to match their physical play and stick to what we know is right.”

Illinois’ offensive production has lacked in the last six games, scoring just five times and averaging less than one goal per game.

Clarke said he tries to get under the opposing players’ skin in order to ignite motivation on his own bench.

“If we’re not scoring goals, a big hit or physical play is definitely the way to get them going,” the 5-foot-10, 165-pound Clarke said. “If guys see me competing and going up against the big guys, just being a little guy like me, hopefully that will spark some guys.”

On the other side of the ice, the Illini defense has allowed 29 goals against during the team’s six-game losing streak and will be up against a Lindenwood offense that averages 3.25 goals per game.

Lindenwood’s offense primarily stems from freshman Daniel Rosse, who has scored nine goals in eight games, while the Illini goal scorers are led by freshman defenseman Cody von Rueden (5). Both von Rueden and Rosse came over to the ACHA from the NAHL junior league during the offseason.

Head coach Nick Fabbrini said the team is excited to play against one of their biggest rivals in front of what should be a large crowd on Homecoming weekend.

“I think there’s genuine dislike between our guys and their guys,” Fabbrini said, discussing the lingering tensions between two of the most successful programs in ACHA history, each team having won two national championships in the past decade.

The Illini are in the middle of the toughest stretch of their schedule, having to play five ranked teams in a row. Having lost every game against a ranked opponent so far this season, Illinois is looking to bounce back and remain in the ACHA top-10, still having to play No. 10 Lindenwood and No. 13 Ohio.

“I don’t think there’s any shame in losing to the teams that we’ve lost to,” Fabbrini said. “Lindenwood’s a great team and Ohio’s a great team, so we still have an opportunity to be where we want to be come November.”

Sean can be reached at [email protected] and @Neumannthehuman.