Both teams marked this game on their calendars in the fall and the showdown is finally here.

The No. 1 ACHA Div. I Icers and No. 2 Delaware will square off tonight at 9 and tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

The weekend series will probably decide which team grabs the No. 1 seed in the ACHA championship tournament, as ACHA officials announce the seeds after next weekend's games.

Icers' coach Joe Battista thinks his team needs to win at least one of the games against Delaware to stay on top of the ACHA polls.

The fast-improving Blue Hens (17-3-1) will be looking to gain their first victory against the Icers (20-1-1) since the beginning of the 2000-2001 season. The Icers have beaten Delaware five times in that span, including a 7-2 victory in the national championship game last season and 5-3 and 3-2 triumphs earlier this season at Delaware.

Unfortunately for the Icers, they will most likely have to battle the Blue Hens without their top goal scorer (19 goals) and point producer (42 points), Glenn Zuck, whose grandfather died Wednesday.

"These are the biggest home games of the semester," Icers coach Joe Battista said. "But he (Glenn) has to be with his family."

Battista said there is a chance that Zuck will play in one of the games this weekend, but it is unlikely.

"I'm hoping that his teammates will be inspired to play even harder in his absence," said Battista of the sophomore, who had a hat trick and two assists last Saturday. "Somebody has to step up."

Delaware coach and former Icers great Josh Brandwene said that he sends his condolences to Zuck and his family. Brandwene doesn't think Glenn's absence will change his team's gameplan.

"I couldn't see one player changing a gameplan on either side of the coin," Brandwene said. "I think both teams have a gameplan they need to execute."

The Icers' strategy will center on their strengths of goaltending and strong defense.

Goalie Geoff Beauparlant is coming off one of his best games of the season, as he held Michigan-Dearborn to one goal last Friday. The senior will split time with Scott Graham this weekend.

One plus for the Icers is that they will have defensemen Curtiss Patrick and Josh Mandel in the lineup, both of whom were injured in the team's wins at Delaware.

"We're going to have to play great defense first and foremost," Battista said.

The Icers must shut down Delaware forwards Chris Ferrazoli and Dan Howard who are first and third in the ACHA in scoring, respectively.

"We have to stay out of the penalty box," Battista added. "We're too shorthanded to be killing penalties."

Penn State will also have to rely on their depth in scoring without Zuck and Bobby Pate, who has 10 goals and suffered a concussion in last Friday's game against Michigan-Dearborn.

The Icers will have four players in their lineup that are in double figures in goals. Balanced scoring has been one of the team's strengths this season.

As for Delaware's game plan, Brandwene said his team must execute, especially on special teams and on defense.

"We've got to be disciplined in a situation like this," Brandwene said. "We have to be poised and willing to work very hard in the defensive end."