When a coach says that he doesn't know what his team is going to do be doing in practice for the week, it could be a good thing or a bad thing.

In the case of the Penn State Ice Lions it's a bad thing.

The Ice Lions went into the weekend knowing that two wins would help them tremendously.

They ended up with one. Penn State (19-5) defeated Central Connecticut State 4-2 on Friday night and lost to SUNY Stony Brook 7-4 Saturday night.

Penn State Ice Lions coach Mo Stroemel was unhappy with the teams play in both games, saying they played sloppy both nights.

"We didn't play smart, hard or tough hockey," Stroemel said. "Stony Brook did all those things, and they beat us well."

The team's defense, which had been suspect all season again, failed to come through in a big game. Central Connecticut State was ranked No. 7 and Stony Brook was ranked No. 2, one spot head of thge Ice Lions, in the most recent poll.

"We have had battles with [Stony Brook] in the past, we are looking forward to seeing them in the playoffs," Ice Lions player Jason Rusnic said.

On Friday night the Lions squeaked out with a win in a very physical game, according to several team members and the coach was that they should have beaten CCSU by more than two goals that it won by. Penn State had CCSU's goalie moving around in the goal crease in order to make stops.

Stony Brook on Saturday came out fired up and very intense in the first period.

They worked hard every shift, they took control and shot the puck at Penn State's Dan Koletsky every chance they had. Of the shots taken, seven of them found their way into the back of the net.

After winning seven games in a row, including the win over CCSU and playing so well, only giving up one goal just a week ago, a let down was unexpected for the team.

"I don't know how you can play a weekend like that when it was a big weekend," Stroemel said.

"I think the team let their heads get big, I am disappointed in the mental toughness."