Hockey East picks – Nov. 22-27

Both Dave and I had banner weeks and posted identically impressive results.

Jim last week: 8-1-2
Jim year-to-date: 58-24-7
Dave last week: 8-1-2
Dave year-to-date: 58-24-7

Friday, November 22

Northeastern at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: Last weekend was hardly ideal for the Huskies and Merrimack continued to struggle to score goals. I think NU will come with a little more hunger.
NU 3, MC 1
Dave’s pick: I’m going to disagree here.  The Warriors have gone through tough times on the road, but I like them to hold serve at home.
MC 2, NU 1

New Hampshire at Providence
Jim’s pick: Battle of two of Hockey East’s hottest teams. I’m giving this one to home ice, at least on Friday.
PC 3, UNH 2
Dave’s pick: Agreed.  I like both teams, but I can’t pick against the Friars at home.
PC 3, UNH 2

Vermont at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: I like the way both of these teams are playing, but think UMass at home gets the edge.
UMass 4, UVM 2
Dave’s pick: UMass looked too good against BC to pick against them at home in this matchup.
UMass 3, UVM 2

Notre Dame at Massachusetts-Lowell
Jim’s pick: With Notre Dame hit by the injury bug, I need to go with the River Hawks at least in the opener.
UML 3, UND 2
Dave’s pick: Agreed.  I’d feel differently about this one in Notre Dame’s barn.
UML 3, UND 2 (OT)

North Dakota at Boston University
Jim’s pick: Neither team has been stellar out of the gate, but I think North Dakota is still the better team on paper.
NoDak 4, BU 2
Dave’s pick: I don’t like the way the Terriers have been playing at all lately.
NoDak 4, BU 2

Saturday, November 23

Boston College at Maine
Jim’s pick: I was impressed by the seven goals Maine scored last Friday, but I’m more impressed by the 25 games BC has scored in its last five games.
BC 5, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: I’m not sure if Maine’s seven goals against BU were a tribute to the Black Bears or a condemnation of the Terriers. I’m opting primarily for the latter and BC certainly didn’t dominate UMass last weekend, but I’m still going with the Eagles.
BC 4, Maine 2

Merrimack at Northeastern
Jim’s pick: If my picks are correct in this series, Northeastern is looking good heading to Thanksgiving while Merrimack is in a lot of trouble.
NU 4, MC 1
Dave’s pick: The Huskies salvage the split at home.
NU 3, MC 2

New Hampshire at Providence
Jim’s pick: The Wildcats salvage a split in a two-game road series vs. the Friars.
UNH 3, PC 1
Dave’s pick: I could certainly see a split, but I’m going with home ice to give the Friars a sweep.
PC 3, UNH 2

Notre Dame at Massachusetts-Lowell
Jim’s pick: If Notre Dame isn’t banged up, I’m probably picking this a sweep for the Irish. But instead I’m picking a sweep for the River Hawks.
UML 4, UND 3
Dave’s pick: Though I hate to agree with Jim again, I’m opting for a Lowell sweep that needs overtime in both games.
UML 3, UND 2 (OT)

North Dakota at Boston University
Jim’s pick: North Dakota gets the much-needed non-league sweep on the road.
NoDak 3, BU 2
Dave’s pick: I don’t like at all where the Terriers are headed. Losing 7-0 to Maine and getting hammered by an archrival don’t fill me with much confidence.
NoDak 4, BU 2

Sunday, November 24

Massachusetts at Vermont
Jim’s pick: Catamounts earn split on home ice.
UVM 4, UMass 2
Dave’s pick: Agreed. The Minutemen impressed at BC last weekend, but they’re still 0-5-1 on the road.
UVM 3, UMass 2

Tuesday, November 26

Harvard at New Hampshire
Jim’s pick: Harvard is going to have to play a lot better than it did against BC, and even that likely won’t be enough.
UNH 5, HU 2
Dave’s pick: The Wildcats will recover from a frustrating weekend at Providence.
UNH 4, HU 2

Wednesday, November 27

Providence at Quinnipiac
Jim’s pick: This has the makings of being one heckuva game between top 10 (maybe top 5?) squads. I know Quinnipiac is great at home but I feel like Providence can end the Bobcats streak.
PC 2, QU 1
Dave’s pick: I’ve really gone back and forth on this one, but I’m a Friars believer and a Hockey East homer to boot. Friars by the slimmest of margins.
PC 3, QU 2 (OT)