If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.

The No. 2 Penn State ACHA Division I Icers have been doing plenty of time in the penalty box this season, finding themselves shorthanded 46 times. In seven games, that breaks down to around seven-and-a-half times per game. In some of those affairs, the official's arm seemed to shoot up in the air more than others, like a teacher's pet trying to show off in class.

"Special teams are making a much bigger difference this year, because referees are calling games tighter," Icers coach Joe Battista said.

Luckily for the Icers, they have been able to "do the time" effectively, nullifying 40 of those penalties for a penalty-kill percentage of 87 percent.

And just how is the time finding success down a man for long stretches of a game?

"It comes down to two things, No. 1 is the way coaches stress blocking shots, being aggressive and hard work, but also it's the character of the guys that we recruit here," junior goalie Chris Matteo said.

At practice, the team has been doing a lot of two-on-one drills and isolation drills, Battista said. The team practices penalty kills in its defensive zone extensively, and it has showed in the first part of the season. During Tuesday's practice, which Battista regarded as one of the best all season, players waiting on the bench cheered for a teammate who successfully blocked a shot out of the zone. Their actions reflect the attitude the team leaders and coaches have been preaching.

"[Assistant coach Matt] Bertani came up with drills to teach our guys how to make it difficult for the other team to get a good pass, always have a stick in the lane -- an active stick," Battista said.

Said senior captain Brett Wilson: "Guys are willing to lay down, they'll do anything, that's why the penalty kill is working so well."

The Icers have yet to shy away from incoming shots while on the penalty kill this season. While no official statistic is kept for blocked shots, the players and coaches know who is willing to lie down to take one for the team.

Sophomore Paul Zodtner made a huge block in this past Saturday's 4-2 win against No. 10 Arizona State. Also earlier in the season, senior defenseman Matt Wallace made what could have been a game-saving block against NCAA Division I Robert Morris. The Icers held their opponents to 1 for 10 on the power play in a 3-2 win.

"It's been a staple of a lot of Penn State teams since I've been here," senior defenseman Brendan Martin said. "A lot of kids take pride in blocking shots. When the chips are down, that could be the difference in a game -- just one blocked shot could be the difference between a 'W' or a loss."

The hustle, hard work and willingness to sacrifice is something Icers goalies can count on having in front of them during a penalty kill.

"You need a special kind of hockey player to stand in front of a puck when you don't have as much equipment on you or dive at the blue line to chip the puck out," Matteo said. "All our guys are warriors out there."

The Icers play what Martin called a "reactive penalty kill." In their system the Icers will wait to see what the other team is offering them and adjust their formation and the amount of pressure they apply to their opponent's power play accordingly.

"If we feel we can get them under pressure, we'll go after them," he said. "If we feel they'll make mistakes, we'll be going at them, but if they're moving the puck well and we're not making them make any turnovers by being aggressive, we'll sit back and play tight, in a box or diamond"

It seems that the Icers have reacted well to their opponents so far this season, knowing when to be aggressive and when to play it safe. The team has three shorthanded goals to its credit. Most recently, freshman Luke DeLorenzo's capping off of his hat trick against Arizona State last weekend.

The penalty killers for the Icers will have to be at their best again -- hustling around, working hard and blocking shots -- this weekend. The Icers take on Duquesne, which has one of the top two or three power plays in the ACHA, according to Battista.

"Penalty killing is mostly about effort, you always have to be going you have got to like that you're against the odds," Martin said. "You have to take some chances. Every once and a while you go after it, trying to make a play; you might make a mistake, but you might be able to kill 30 seconds off the clock.

"You have to be poised and under control --aware of what's going on around you."