If there's one collective thought running through the minds of the Penn State ACHA Division I Icers, it's revenge.

In November, Rhode Island thumped Penn State 4-2 to remain the only squad this year that Penn State has played but hasn't beaten.

"Friday when we were up there, we really didn't come out hard," forward Teague Willits-Kelley said. "But we regrouped and came back Saturday."

And the Icers won't have to wait long for vengeance -- they're scheduled to take on Rhode Island at 9 p.m. tonight and 3:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

Coach Joe Battista said the team was "play[ing] without any kind of passion" immediately following the game, but believes his squad has come a long way since then.

Nearly flawless Rhode Island goaltending and a feisty Rams' home crowd plagued the Icers in the teams' first meeting.

"You should've seen the Rhode Island fans," goalie Chris Matteo said back in November. "My ex-girlfriend goes to URI, so they held up this big sign: 'Chris Matteo, [phone number], ex-girlfriend Kristen.' They put up my cell phone number and started chanting it -- and I wasn't even playing."

Matteo shouldn't have to worry about that in his home rink tonight, but the Icers will still have to be on the lookout for goalie Anthony Feyock.

Feyock, last year's ACHA Rookie of the Year, tallied 38 saves en route to a shutout last time around. He's currently allowing 1.4 goals per game.

"He's a big kid," Battista said. "He's tough to beat on the initial shot, you gotta beat him with screens and tips and rebounds."

Luckily, the Icers have proven that they're able to win defensive struggles.

Against Ohio, Penn State pulled out a 2-1 win to snap the Bobcats' 28-game unbeaten streak at Bird Arena. Ohio's playing style is a bit different from Rhode Island's, however. The Bobcats are more physical, while the Rams tend to rely on their speed and depth.

According to Battista, Rhode Island's fourth line also recorded three goals in its first meeting against the Icers. Obviously, if Penn State wants to come out on top this weekend, that can't happen again -- even if the Icers are at a distinct disadvantage.

Penn State is without three of its best players: Kevin Jaeger, Joe Maglaque and Eric Harbaugh, who are currently representing Team USA in the World University Games in Austria.

Still, Battista is optimistic.

"We're moving the puck as well as we've moved it all year," he said. "Our guys understand that we've got to do it as a team."

Penn State's power play was anemic in the previous meeting, as it went 0-for-7 in the second game.

The Icers' low-energy problem shouldn't be much of a factor today, because Battista's expecting the home crowd to come out in full force.

"I really hope we pack the place this weekend," he said.

"They gotta be the seventh man for us."