Alabama routed the LSU Ice Hockey Club twice, 16-2 and 10-0, in Birmingham last year.The Tigers (4-1) will be out for revenge this weekend as they face the Crimson Tide (5-5) in a pair of home games, 10:15 p.m. Friday and 8:45 a.m. Saturday.LSU has already matched its win total of four from its inaugural season a year ago.Freshman forward Greg Douglas, the team’s goals and assists leader, said Alabama might think they’re playing last year’s LSU squad when the puck drops tonight.With that attitude, Douglas said the Crimson Tide will be in for a surprise.”I don’t think they’re ready for us this year,” Douglas said. “They’re not going to know what hit them.”Last year’s blowout losses to Alabama left a bad taste in the Tigers’ mouths.LSU coach Leonard Alsfeld called the two-game thumping an “unattractive trip” that was finished before it started.”We showed up 10 minutes before the game after a nine-hour drive,” Alsfeld said. “Clearly not the right preparation to play a rivalry game.”Alsfeld attributed much of his team’s previous woes against the Crimson Tide to poor depth, a problem he said LSU has solved this season.”Last year we were outmatched in skill and in number, because we only had four backups,” Alsfeld said. “We’re going to throw four lines at them [this weekend].”Douglas said he thinks the tables will be turned this year when Alabama makes the nine-hour drive.”They’re probably going to be really tired from traveling down here,” Douglas said. “I think we’ll beat them pretty bad.”Alsfeld said the hype surrounding Saturday’s football game between the schools has given his team extra motivation.”Hopefully we’ll hurt them enough [Friday] so they’ll be really tired and forget to bring their ‘A’ game,” Alsfeld said. “We’ll get to mug them Saturday morning, and then the football Tigers can mug them again.”Alsfeld is fine with his players playing aggressively but said the team can’t afford to be undisciplined.”We’ve committed far too many penalties,” Alsfeld said. “We’re playing almost half of every game short-handed.”The Tigers allowed four power-play goals two weeks ago in their 8-4 loss to Georgia.Alsfeld’s sons, senior forward Clark and junior defenseman Mac, lead the team in total penalty minutes with 26 and 16, respectively.The former Tulane coach said his players are eager to get to the boards and hit their opponents hard.Douglas, who leads the team with four power-play goals, believes staying out of the penalty box will bode well for the Tigers this weekend.”If we stay five-on-five with them, we’re definitely going to beat them,” Douglas said.
 
 
 
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