The ISU hockey team finally notched its first road sweep Friday and Saturday with a pair of wins against No. 12 Illinois. The No. 7 Cyclones started the weekend with a come-from-behind 4-2 win Friday night and finished the weekend with a defensive battle, winning the game 2-1.

On Friday, the Cyclones were down 2-1 going into the third period but tied it up 9:46 into the period with a goal by forward JP Kascsak. Kascsak followed his own shot to the net and put away the rebound. Only 29 seconds later, defenseman Dominic Toigo scored the game-winner on a slap shot. The Cyclones got some insurance with a goal from forward Derek Kohles.

Kascsak, who also scored the game-winning goal Saturday, has been on a hot streak lately. He had nine points (four goals, five assists) in his last five games. Last week, he said that in practice they were working on “getting the puck to the net and getting support all the way there,” and it showed on his goal Friday night.

“It didn’t work out in the first or second period, but it worked out in the third,” Kascsak said. “Kohles kept driving the net, [James] Buttermore and I were driving the net, we were shooting the puck and finally got a few in there.”

That line accounted for two goals.

Goaltender Paul Karus started both games for the Cyclones and stopped 28 of the 30 shots on Friday night and 24 of the 25 shots on Saturday night.

ISU coach Al Murdoch said it is a “great accomplishment” to win at the “Big Pond,” a nickname for Illinois’ arena because of its larger ice size.

Moving forward, the Cyclones have three more weekends before the CSCHL tournament and all feature matchups with some of the best teams in the ACHA. Next weekend, the Cyclones will play No. 9 Robert Morris in Ames. The next weekend, Iowa State will travel to play at No. 4 Lindenwood, then will return home for a pair of games against No. 15 Central Oklahoma.

The Cyclones have not played against Robert Morris or Central Oklahoma yet this season, but the Cyclones were swept at home earlier this season by Lindenwood.

“It’s going to be like playoff hockey the next three weekends,” Murdoch said. “Three weekends in a row of outstanding hockey. It’s going to be great for the fans, great for the players, and we’re excited about it.”