All good superheroes -- or, in this case, superstars -- need a good sidekick, someone to carry the load when it looks as if the superhero may in fact be just a mere mortal.

Batman had Robin, the Lone Ranger had Tonto, and Super Mario (all right, it's a stretch) had Jaromir Jagr.

It was only fitting that in the first period of Friday night's game against Washington & Jefferson two weeks ago, junior Kevin Jaeger blocked a shot on the penalty kill and the puck landed right on the stick of senior Glenn Zuck, who quickly feathered a perfect outlet pass to Jaeger. Streaking in all alone, Jaeger deked left before dragging the puck right, depositing the puck calmly into the net for his 100th career goal.

"It was kind of a classic Zuck-Jaeger connection," said Penn State Icers coach Joe Battista, who has seen plenty of moments just like that during the three seasons the two have been linemates.

Partners in crime, sidekicks, or just co-workers, the duo has been superhuman the last two and a half years together, combining for a ridiculous 435 points, including 196 goals.

The two are outlaws of sort, players with Div. I-caliber talent who came to Penn State to prove something to those schools that passed over them. They now have a bond that brings to mind another famous duo.

"For three years we've been like Bonnie and Clyde," Zuck said. "We've always been together; we've led the team; we live together; we always hang out together off the ice. He's been one of my best friends."

Battista knows he robbed the bank when he got Jaeger to come to Penn State all the way from Ann Arbor, Mich. However, he probably didn't know how handsomely he would make out.

Jaeger stormed onto the scene his freshman year, scoring 24 goals while earning second-team all-tournament team at the ACHA National Tournament and honorable mention All-American while leading the Penn State ACHA Div. I Icers to its third straight national championship. There was more to come. Much more.

Last season he led the team with 41 goals, was second in points with 78, was named a first team ACHA All-American and again helped the Icers to a national championship. His 41 goals last year put him second all-time in Icers history for goals in a season.

And with as many as four games left this season, Jaeger's 81 points have already surpassed last year's total and his 36 goals have him poised to break Lynn Sipe's career goal record of 129 goals next year.

With uncanny speed and shiftiness, as well as a tenacity that far exceeds his 5-foot-8, 160 pound frame, Jaeger has a nastiness that counterbalances his immense offensive talents.

So what does it mean to surpass the 100-goal mark in his career?

"It just means that somebody is passing me the puck more than I am passing it to him," Jaeger said jokingly.

That somebody would be Zuck, whose big, bruising style fits perfectly with Jaeger's quick and crafty style.

It's pick your poison for the opposition; Zuck carrying the puck into the zone, dragging two or three guys before passing the puck to Jaeger, who dances around the remaining guys before unleashes his wicked wrist shot for yet another goal.

The two have a sixth sense on the ice that even Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment couldn't duplicate.

"I just know if I'm covered then he's probably open," Jaeger said. "It always just seems to work out that way even though I think it's become so routine that we don't even know why it works."

All good things must come to an end though, and in a few weeks, the fabulous duo will no longer play together on the red line. The thought of losing Zuck scares Jaeger more than hulking defenseman or hot goaltender.

"Every great player that's been in that situation has had those doubts," Battista said. "I just think he'll find somebody else."

Bonnie and Clyde getting a divorce? It's just hard to imagine.