This week, "December Five" has stretched across the front page of the Penn State ACHA Division I Icers' Web site. The headline refers to Penn State's much-needed, five-game homestand, which begins this evening and could not come at a better time for the road-weary squad.

"The season's starting to wear on guys. There are injuries that are nagging," junior forward Sean Kenney said. "It's nice to be home in front of the crowd. It really helps out with our energy."

No. 4 Penn State will see action for the first time since sweeping Rhode Island on the road two weekends ago when it plays No. 13 Delaware tonight at 9 and tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 in the Greenberg Ice Pavilion.

Tonight's game will not only mark the first meeting between the two squads since the Icers roped the Blue Hens, 8-0, in the first round of last season's ACHA National Tournament, but also will pit two of the league's hottest teams.

Coming off of its two biggest wins of the year, Penn State (14-2-0, 14-1-0 ACHA) boasts an 11-game winning streak. Since their last loss, a 5-3 defeat at the hands of No. 3 Oklahoma more than a month ago, the Icers have posted five shutouts and outscored their opponents 54-10.

Meanwhile, Delaware (11-5-0) is in the midst of its own streak, having won six straight games. Along with Penn State, the Blue Hens have the distinction of beating No. 2 Rhode Island this season. They also defeated NCAA Division I Robert Morris -- something the Icers were unable to do.

"Delaware has a good team. We know they are going to be a strong team and this is always a huge game for them," head coach Scott Balboni said. "They're going to come in here fired up and ready to go."

Delaware will look to senior forward Kevin Neeld and his team-leading nine goals to carry the load on offense. In net, junior goalkeeper Jimmy Depfer will need to continue his solid play against Penn State's attack of senior forward Mike McMullen, sophomore forwards Luke DeLorenzo, Frank Berry and Steve Peck -- all of whom averaging a point or more per game.

But, according to Delaware head coach Mike DeAngelis, stopping the Icers' parade of scorers will only be half the battle.

"We don't need to be superheroes, but we do not need to make mistakes," he said. "That's one thing the Icers have done for the last 10 years or so -- any mistake you make results in a goal when playing them.

"Going up against Penn State, you have to realize the severity of everything that you do on the ice. You have to have a purpose; you have to be committed."

DeAngelis knows that, if they limit their mistakes, the Blue Hens can attempt to control the tempo and keep the game close. The last thing he wants his team to do is get into a track meet.

"You don't need to play incredible hockey, but you really have to play conservative hockey," he said. "The longer the game goes on where you're either a goal up or a goal down definitely benefits you. You never want to be in a run-and-gun situation against Penn State because they're going to hurt you."