Illinois (10-3-2, 31 pts.) kept the streak rolling away from home this weekend. The team poured in 12 goals across two games to sweep McKendree (6-13-0, 16 pts.) with a 6-4 win Friday and a 6-2 victory Saturday. The Illini have now won five straight.

Illinois’ top forwards led the way again, with senior forward Gregory Etingen, junior forward David Etingen and sophomore forwards David Ras and Carson Mitchell combining for eight goals in the series. Sophomore goaltender Grady Sulkin turned in a massive weekend as well, stopping 75 of 81 shots across both games.

Friday’s fast start

Friday’s opener looked like a runaway early as Illinois dominated the first period. The Illini raced out to a 4-0 lead behind goals from junior forward Arthur Pawlik, senior forward John McLaughlin, Gregory Etingen and Ras.

Illinois stretched the lead to 5-0 in the middle of the second when freshman forward Tomasz Lulinski buried his career goal off a feed from Mitchell. McKendree refused to go quietly, though. 

The Bearcats erupted for three unanswered goals in the final eight minutes of the period to make it a 5-3 game.

“We got away from what made us successful and got us the lead,” said head coach John Opilka. “(We) stopped moving our feet, taking care of the puck and playing simple.”

McKendree made it 5-4 on senior forward Joe McCormick’s tally midway through the third, but that was as close as the game got. 

With under two minutes to play, Gregory Etingen provided the dagger, finishing off a feed from his little brother David to secure the 6-4 win. 

“They both feed off of each other well and have great chemistry,” Opilka said of the brothers. “Having them in the lineup and contributing is important to our success.”

Sulkin finished with 28 saves on 32 shots, while Illinois held a 43-32 edge in shots.

Sulkin’s Saturday

Saturday’s contest was a much different story. While McKendree dominated in chances, Illinois made nearly every one of its own chances count. 

Despite being outshot 49-32, the Illini cruised to a 6-2 win behind another otherworldly performance from Sulkin, who turned away 47 of 49 shots to secure the sweep.

Illinois struck first on the power play late in the opening period when Mitchell netted yet another goal off assists from Gregory Etingen and sophomore forward Riley Babich to make it 1-0. McKendree answered in the final minute of the frame.

The second period was all Illinois. Babich got Illinois rolling again with his first goal of the season midway through the frame before David Etingen doubled the lead less than two minutes later with a solo finish. 

Mitchell continued his hot streak, netting his second of the night to make it 4-1 heading into the third. The sophomore, who led the Illini in goals and points last season, has once again been a spark plug for an offense that’s firing on all cylinders.

McKendree found life early in the third with a quick goal less than a minute into the frame, but Illinois left no breathing room after that. Ras added an insurance goal midway through the frame, and David Etingen put the finishing touch on the sweep with a late power-play goal.

Seeking revenge

With five straight wins and a rolling offense, Illinois looks to avenge its early-season loss to Purdue Northwest next weekend in a home-and-home series. The Illini fell 3-2 to the Pride in early October and will have a chance to even the score.

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