This weekend was supposed to be easy — two blowouts and a goodbye on senior day — but things do not always work out the way they are planned.

The No. 1 ACHA Div. I Icers (22-4-1) take on Niagara (6-8-5) tonight at 9 at the Greenberg Ice Pavillion and tomorrow face off against Western New England (3-14) at 3:30 p.m.

With seeding already complete for the national tournament, teams normally use this final weekend of the regular season to fine tune their play and finalize their game plans for nationals.

However, the Icers do not have that luxury.

"We are heading in (to nationals) limping," head coach Joe Battista said. "We have to make adjustments."

Many of those adjustments will be made because the Icers are banged up throughout their lineup.

Co-captain Kyle Jordan recently had surgery to reconstruct his knuckle and will not skate until Feb. 19 at the earliest.

Battista is worried there is a chance he may not be ready in time for nationals.

Jordan's left-wing Joe McArdle is battling a hip injury, which has been given him problems all season, although there is a chance he could suit up this weekend.

The worst injury of all came last weekend at Ohio when forward/center Paul Sealock (who has been a fixture on the second line with forward Bill Downey) tore his second ACL (in two years) and is done for the season, and possibly his career.

"We do not know if he will be coming back," Battista said. "Next year is an option."

One void on the second line is tough enough to fill, but Downey will also miss tonight's game after being suspended for an altercation last weekend.

"That makes it much more difficult," Battista said.

A bulk of the pressure this weekend and at nationals will be placed on the shoulders of guys who have not seen a tremendous amount of ice time this season.

But who are players that could play important and vital vital roles come tournament time.

"Anybody who is eligible is playing," Battista said.

These two final games of the season will give the coaching staff a good picture of who will play if needed in the tournament.

Battista is well aware of the strength of his bench.

"(Defenseman Joe) Sheridan has shown us a lot. He can play his role and do his job," Battista said. "(Forward Garrett) Divins is starting to make improvements."

These are two of a number of players who will have their final auditions this weekend to impress the coaching staff and attempt to earn ice time at the Nationals.

With Nationals just a week and a half away, it would be only natural for the Icers to be looking ahead with great anticipation.

However, this is going to be a pivotal weekend to prepare the Icers for nationals.

As strange as it may sound, (considering the way the Icers tore through their regular schedule and with their softer opponents), this could be a make or break weekend for them.