Let the good times continue to roll! For the third straight week, I’ve picked up games on Dave and have increased my lead to four. That, along with the fact that I was an unbeaten 7-0-4 last week, should have the old man ready to pull out all the punches. How else can he carry a lead late in the season and play the four-corners?
Jim last week: 7-0-4
Jim to-date: 58-22-14
Dave last week: 6-1-4
Dave to-date: 54-26-14
Friday, November 20
Vermont at Maine
Jim’s pick: This pick has more to do with Maine’s struggles than Vermont success.
UVM 3, Maine 1
Dave’s pick: Maine’s struggles on offense — only 11 goals in 11 games, easily the worst mark in Hockey East — will continue.
UVM 3, Maine 0
Northeastern at Providence
Jim’s pick: Things just aren’t getting any easier for this Northeastern team. Facing the number one team in the nation is the last thing the Huskies need.
PC 4, NU 2
Dave’s pick: It was about this time last year that the Huskies began their turnaround, but I can’t see it happening against the Friars.
PC 4, NU 2
Notre Dame at UMass Lowell
Jim’s pick: This should on paper be the best matchup of the weekend. Which means I should be apt to pick a split. The only reason I won’t though, is because of past results. Lowell is 6-1-1 against Notre Dame since the Irish joined Hockey East.
UML 3, ND 1
Dave’s pick: I’m not convinced this will be as close a matchup as Jim thinks. I think Lowell is the better team and the games are in its barn.
UML 3, ND 1
Massachusetts at New Hampshire
Jim’s pick: It has been difficult to know which UMass and which UNH team will show up every night. Thus, this coin flip goes the way of home ice.
UNH 4, UMass 3
Dave’s pick: The Wildcats have suffered some terrible defensive struggles this year, including blowing a 6-1 lead over UMass a month ago. So even though the Minutemen have been porous in their own end as well, I think this matchup favors the visitors.
UMass 4, UNH 3
Michigan at Boston University
Jim’s pick: The fact that BU didn’t win a game last weekend against #1 Providence gives me reason to believe it will be hungrier against Michigan.
BU 4, UM 2
Dave’s pick: I saw BU’s two ties with Providence as a sign of strength rather than a reason to be frustrated and hungry, so I’m going with the Terriers but for different reasons than Jim.
BU 3, UM 2
Saturday, November 21
Massachusetts at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: That Lawler Arena advantage is plenty for the Warriors.
MC 4, UMass 2
Dave’s pick: If the Warriors could win 4-2 at the Mullins Center, I’m certainly picking them back home.
MC 5, UMass 2
Vermont at Maine
Jim’s pick: The Catamounts complete the sweep and Maine remains winless.
UVM 3, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: I’ll pick the Black Bears to score on this night, but that’s as far as I can go.
UVM 3, Maine 1
Providence at Northeastern
Jim’s pick: Even home ice isn’t enough to get the Huskies a win.
PC 5, NU 3
Dave’s pick: I can’t imagine anyone thinking before the season began that the Huskies would start 1-10-2.
PC 3, NU 2
Notre Dame at UMass Lowell
Jim’s pick: The River Hawks complete the sweep, though admittedly this series could easily be a sweep the other way.
UML 2, ND 1
Dave’s pick: I was hoping Jim would pick a split so I could make up some ground, but I like what I’ve seen from the River Hawks.
UML 3, ND 1
Boston College at New Hampshire
Jim’s pick: It hasn’t always been easy for the Eagles to win at UNH, but they are simply the better team right now.
BC 3, UNH 1
Dave’s pick: The Eagles are 9-1 with a goal differential of 42-10; UNH is a game under .500 and has scored a single goal less than it has given up. I’m not picking BC shutouts anymore, but right now, these two teams aren’t close.
BC 4, UNH 1
Michigan at Boston University
Jim’s pick: Michigan is too good of a team go go back to Ann Arbor without points.
UM 3, BU 2
Dave’s pick: For me, the jury is still out on Michigan. Yeah, a 5-1-1 record is nice, but it’s been a very weak early season schedule. Give me the Terriers with a home sweep.
BU 3, UM 2
Tuesday, November 24
Boston College at Connecticut
Jim’s pick: I have a weird feeling going with the obvious here won’t be correct. But I’m going with the obvious nonetheless.
BC 3, UConn 1
Dave’s pick: UConn has lost seven straight; BC is 9-1. It’s hard to see a winning return for UConn coach Mike Cavanaugh to his old haunts.
BC 5, UConn 1
Bentley at Boston University
Jim’s pick: Everyone will believe this should be a blowout. But may I use one word to remind us Bentley isn’t a walkover: Northeastern. Still, BU isn’t losing this at home.
BU 4, Bentley 2
Dave’s pick: Given Northeastern’s struggles so far this year, I’m not sure Bentley’s wins mean anything more than two bricks in the Huskies’ wall. I’m picking a blowout.
BU 6, Bentley 1
New Hampshire at Rensselaer
Jim’s pick: RPI is 3-1-1 at home this year, reason enough for me to pick the Engineers.
RPI 3, UNH 2
Dave’s pick: I feel like I’ve been wrong with almost every UNH pick so far this season. So I’m going to do Coach Umile a favor and go against the Wildcats. Coach, you’re welcome.
RPI 3, UNH 2 (OT)
