Despite having played barely half the amount of games as No. 1 Lindenwood and scoring 33 fewer goals so far, the No. 3 Penn State Icers are keeping up with the Lions in one area -- overall offensive depth.

Only six games into the season, the Icers have already had 15 skaters light the lamp, whereas Lindenwood only has 17 players who have scored, despite playing five more games than Penn State.

"Depth is going to be something that is going to carry us a long way this year," junior Tim O'Brien said. "A lot of guys are getting points for us early in the season, and that's what we need, so hopefully we can continue doing that throughout the year."

Suspensions, injuries and even homecoming have led to more players getting opportunities.

Three players have missed a game because of suspension, captain Matt Kirstein missed two games this weekend because of his involvement with the Homecoming Court and other starters like juniors Taylor Cera and Carey Bell, as well as senior Dave Herel, have all missed time because of injuries.

But despite missing Kirstein, Herel, freshman George Saad and sophomore Dan Loucks this past weekend, the Icers put together what coach Scott Balboni called their best team performance of the season.

In its rout of the No. 9 West Chester Golden Rams Friday, the Icers had seven different players score their seven goals -- including three players who scored their first of the season.

"That was by far our best team effort," Balboni said. "Everybody played well. We're starting to get a good idea of who can play well together, and with guys in and out of the lineup, that's been a key for us."

One of the players who notched his first tally of the year, sophomore Chris Cerutti, said the overall depth is the reason the team has started 4-1-1, despite not getting production from some of its veteran players -- including himself.

Cerutti, who scored 13 goals in just 26 games last season, said the team's road trip to Ohio two weeks ago is the reason everyone felt so comfortable on the ice against West Chester, regardless of who was on or off the ice.

"That first road trip of the season really brought this team together," he said, "and now to have seven different players score in one game, just shows we have every line producing right now and doing the little things right."

But eventually those players missing games for whatever reason are going to return to the ice, forcing other players who might be producing right now out of the lineup.

With the potential of losing playing time despite scoring goals or setting up teammates, practices have become more intense as players battle for a spot on one of the four starting lines, Cera said.

"It's real competitive," he said. "Sometimes I even say, joking around, that practice is harder than the games with everyone trying to compete for a spot. But, in the end, that just shows how deep we are as a team and we need that."