If you want to call it a meaningless set of games, go ahead, you've got a point.

Consider it a weekend where nothing good can come out of it, it's a valid argument.

Think it's a little odd to be playing another two games after the national tournament seeds have already been released? You will be told to preach on.

Judging from the No. 1 Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers' (30-2-0) practice yesterday, however, where they seemed visibly frustrated by a slumping power play, they would tell you that all the rhetoric is wrong. Completely wrong.

The Icers will look to continue their 10-game winning streak and more importantly carry some valuable momentum into the national tournament when they face-off against No. 12 Washington & Jefferson (20-9-1) this weekend.

"I definitely see it as a tune up," senior forward Brendan Roache said. "Everybody wants to be the hot team going in [to nationals in Ames, Iowa], everyone wants to have the hot hand ... The last thing we need is a loss."

To call the games meaningless would mean that the Icers have no chinks in their strong armor, and that's untrue.

Atop the list would be the power play, which, despite holding near 40 percent efficiency for the season, has had a hard time getting the puck into the zone, let alone finishing the chances when they get them lately.

Puck movement has been the biggest issue, and accordingly Battista has gone about making changes to find the right fit, knowing that at nationals maximum efficiency on the power play is necessary.

Also unresolved are the situations in net and on defense, where depth, which has been a strength all season, now has Battista behind the eight-ball to find the right combination. While Battista is comfortable with the situation, he agrees this weekend will go a long way to sewing up the loose ends.

"I think that's exactly what [this weekend] is doing, doing the little things that get you ready for nationals," Battista said. "Maybe your not going to show all your cards but you're going to work on the things that you want to work on going into nationals."

A few cards may be remain up Battista's sleeve this weekend because Washington & Jefferson is the No. 9 seed at nationals, making them one of 11 other sworn enemies.

However, that is not all bad. With both teams trying to avoid injuries, the threat of a free-for-all-game is all but out the window, as is the likelihood for any game disqualification penalties.

So while the scores may not -- alright, so they won't at all -- affect things in the grand scheme of things, don't tell that to the Icers.

"I'm confident in our team, we're playing great hockey right now," Roache said. "It's just some little things to tweak and hopefully this weekend we can get this rolling and take it right to Ames."

-- By Joel Rineer