February 03, 2008 - The Illini know it's never easy to go into Iowa State and expect to come out with two wins, but that's exactly what they did this past weekend, keeping their streak alive with 27 straight wins. In two nearly identical games, the Illini found themselves down by two goals at the start of the third period, battled back to even the score, sending the game into overtime, then pulling out the win with a score of 3-2.

On Friday night the Illini came out a little flat but equaled the Cyclones in shots on goal in the first period, and neither team being able to get on the board. Iowa State took control in the second period, limiting the Illini to just 4 shots on goal, and scoring twice, including a short handed goal. The Illini started the third period down 2-0, but came to life and just two and a half minutes in, junior Pat Saliba put the Illini back in the game with his fourth goal of the season. Senior Alex Park would score the tying goal just minutes later, that would eventually send the game into overtime. An Iowa State penalty in the overtime period would give the Illini the edge, and while down in front of the net was able to bat the puck into the ISU net giving the Illini the 3-2 win.

The Illini made a short 30 mile trip south to Des Moines for an afternoon match against Iowa State at the Wells Fargo Arena, home of the Iowa Stars. The boys in Blue came out playing a much better game and dominated the Cyclones the majority of the game. Again the first period would go scoreless, but the Illini would out shoot ISU, as they would in all of the periods. A late first period penalty on the Illini that would carry over into the second, would allow the Cyclones to get on the board first once again just less than a minute into the second period. Just minutes later ISU would get another power play chance and once again get a shot past the Illini's Mike Burda, allowing them to go up 2-0 over the Illini. Just over halfway through the third period Matt Jennings would finally put the Illini on the board with his seventh goal of the season. Alex Park would once again put in the tying goal, with just over 4 minutes left to play in the game. With no other scoring, the game would once go into overtime tied at 2. With just over a minute left in the overtime period, Brad Hoelzer would get the puck past ISU's Hudson, giving the Illini the 3-2 win.

The two wins over Iowa State give the Illini 8 more league points putting them in first place, tied with Lindenwood with 64 points. The Illini can pick up 8 more points this coming weekend when they travel to Bensenville, IL to take on the Robert Morris College Eagles.

( Game One Box Score ) ( Game One Recap )
( Game Two Box Score ) ( Game Two Recap )