The Illini hope to rebound this weekend when they travel to Kent, Ohio to face off against 3-2, unranked Kent State.

Illinois has won all 13 games against Kent State since they came to the league in 1994. However, after a heartbreaking overtime loss last Saturday, the Illini need to prove they belong ranked No. 2 in the polls.

For the second straight weekend, Illinois will face an opponent that has yet to win a league game and the Golden Flashes are going to be gunning for the young Illini.

Illinois head coach Chad Cassel said the loss to Eastern Michigan has increased the team's intensity during practice, and he hopes it carries into the games this weekend.

"I think the morale is high, and you always want to rebound strongly. Everyone is ready to do that (this weekend)," freshman forward Mike Kincaid said.

Similar to last week, these games are twice as important in the standings because Illinois will only play the Golden Flashes twice this season, so two wins would net the Illini eight points in the standings.

Junior forward Scott Kohler said that last week the team had trouble converting on scoring opportunities and need to "bury the puck" this weekend against the Golden Flashes who let up an average of 3.20 goals a game.

"We're going to have to pick up the intensity and come together as a team," Kohler said.

He said the Illini cannot take a team like Kent State lightly because if they do, then the Golden Flashes can squeak out a victory just like Eastern Michigan.

"We just have to go back to the basics," Kohler said. "We all know hockey, and if we can limit our mistakes, we'll be alright."

Cassel hopes the team can start off Friday's game strong and set the tone for the weekend.

But there are hurdles to overcome. The rink size is small compared to Illinois, which boasts the largest rink in the league, and the Illini won't be as rested as the Flashes, said Kincaid.

"We need to go hard for 60 minutes. That's al I'm asking for, and we haven't done that all year," said Cassel. "As long as we do that, the wins will come."