So yes, Dave wins this season. Finally. The old man wasn’t even close the last two years and the way he gloated last week you would think he’d won the Lamoriello Cup. I guess once you get old you look for the little things for satisfaction.
Jim last week: 2-1-0
Dave last week: 2-1-0
Jim record-to-date: 113-80-25
Dave record-to-date: 121-72-25
NCAA Northeast Regional at Manchester- Friday/Saturday
Jim’s pick: The ESPN broadcast on Sunday may have summed it up right: whomever wins the Massachusetts-Lowell/Wisconsin game may well be the national champ. I don’t want to go that far, but I will say win that game, win the region.
Semis: UML 4, Wisco 2; UNH 3, DU 2
Finals: UML 3, UNH 1; UML 3, DU; Wisco 4, UNH 3
Dave’s pick: As a Hockey East guy, Lowell’s matchup with Wisconsin scares the living daylights out of me. This is one of the few teams in the country that can match, or come close to, the River Hawks’ consistency since the first few weeks of the season. I see special teams being the key. As for New Hampshire, it remains to be seen which team will show up, the one from the first half that looked Frozen-Four-bound or the lukewarm edition from the second half.
Semis: UML 2, Wisco 1 (OT); UNH 3, Denver 2
Finals: UML 3, UNH 2; UML 3, Denver 2; Wisco 2, UNH 1
NCAA East Regional at Providence – Saturday/Sunday
Jim’s pick: BC’s tournament history is reason alone to pick the Eagles. Though I think the first-round matchup vs. Union is a very difficult one, winning the regional final, if they get there, is a cake walk.
Semis: BC 3, Union 2
Finals: BC 4, Quinnipiac 1; BC 5, Canisius 2
Dave’s pick: I consider this to be the most vulnerable Eagles team in years. The defense was appalling with all the breakaways given up to Boston University in their semifinal loss, and depth is a problem. Parker Milner hasn’t been the dominating force he was last year, primarily because the defense hasn’t compared to past years. But I can’t see any team in this bracket knocking them out.
Semis: BC 4, Union 2
Finals: BC 3, Quinnipiac 1; BC 4 Canisius 1
