Neal Price couldn't shake the smile off his face after Friday night's game.

Despite the No. 2 Penn State Icers' rocky performance in a 4-3 win against No. 9 Delaware, the junior forward was just too wound up to let it bother him.

"I was so excited to be back," Price said. "It took a few minutes to get used to the pace again and get your timing back, but after the first few shifts I felt real good."

Due to an ACL tear in the preseason, Friday's game was Price's first since the Icers defeated then-No. 4 Eastern Michigan in the ACHA Championship game last March.

A similar scenario is true for forward Joe McArdle, who returned to action in Saturday's game against Delaware after being out since the preseason with a knee injury.

Both players have been skating in practices since mid-January and have increased in strength every week, but neither has played full contact until last week.

At mid-week, Penn State coach Joe Battista said he was pleased with the progress of both players.

But he added neither was yet back in playing shape and that he would probably use them sparingly.

But by game time on Friday, Battista knew he would be without forward Greg Held, who suffered an AC sprain last weekend in Michigan.

He needed a replacement right winger to fill in.

In steps Price, who slammed home his first goal this season — Penn State's second of the night — on just his second shift back on the ice.

"I was actually pretty nervous for the first few shifts back," Price said. "It took a few hits to get me back in the swing of things. But after that (the goal), the adrenaline was flowing and I was ready to go."

Battista commended Price with an enthusiastic effort that helped Penn State to pull out the win.

The next night, it was much the same story. An injury to forward Mike Blevins put McArdle in position to step back into the lineup.

Although McArdle didn't register a point during the game, he made a solid effort on offense as well as on special teams.

Despite both players showing steady improvements in their games, Battista said he still has reservations about using them in the remaining games of the season and postseason.

According to ACHA regulations, a player who is looking to redshirt for a particular season can't play in more than 20 percent of the games for the season and can't participate in the postseason tournament.

Battista said both players are more than willing to play in this season's tournament, but he is looking more toward the future.

"It's nothing short of miraculous, especially with Neal, that they're back," Battista said. "It's really great to have them back, but looking down the road, I'd rather have them for the next two seasons than play them right now."