Before the Icers can focus on playoff hockey, they must settle a little unfinished regular season business in Buffalo this weekend.

Penn State (26-0) visits the University of Buffalo Thundering Herd (9-15-0, 7-4 in the Eastern College Hockey League) today and the Buffalo State Bengals (19-4) tomorrow to wrap up its regular season schedule.

Coach Joe Battista looks forward to meeting the old ICHL rivals, but has some concerns that his team will focus on the rapidly approaching playoffs rather than this weekend's games.

"The single biggest issue is whether we stay focused on the teams we're playing this weekend," Battista said. "We've got to remember that we still have two games against teams that could knock us off."

Battista considers both teams to be "very determined opponents" and remembers that Buffalo State beat Penn State last year in Buffalo. However, the Icers overcame the defeats by downing the Bengals and Thundering Herd two times each this season.

The Icers destroyed the Thundering Herd, 20-0 and 10-2, in October, but will face a much-improved University of Buffalo team today.

Tomorrow's contest will have fairly equal offenses facing off against each other. Ross Cowan leads the Icers with 81 points in 26 games followed by Rob Keegan with 61 points in 25 games. Buffalo State is led by Regis Morelli (101 points), John Mathisen (77), Brian Bush (73) and Chris Krueger (73).

The Icers are expected to have the advantage over the Bengals on defense and in goal.

Penn State also posted two wins earlier this season, 6-2 and 9-3, against the Bengals.

The Icers may have one more advantage over the Bengals tomorrow. Forward Mark Konchar will return to the lineup after suffering a deep thigh contusion in the Nittany Lion Invitational Tournament championship game against the Bengals.