Last week:
Dan: 4-7-3
Chris: 6-5-3
On the season:
Dan: 31-25-10 (.545)
Chris: 35-21-10 (.606)
This Week’s Picks:
Thursday, November 10
Bentley at American International
Dan: AIC is proving, time and time again, that they’re a gritty team capable of competing with everyone at any time. On Tuesday, they rallied from down 1-0 to go up 2-1 before Tanner Jago tied the game late. My head is telling me that Bentley is due to rebound, but there’s something pulling me to AIC. I’m going to go with my head, but I’m doing it knowing my pick could be very wrong. Bentley wins.
Chris:I can’t remember a “series” that took place on a Tuesday and Thursday but Bentley will return to AIC after a 2-2 tie in Springfield on Election Day. The Yellow Jackets have some momentum but I think the Falcons put together a good 60 minutes. Bentley wins.
Friday, November 11 and Saturday, November 12
Rochester Institute of Technology at Air Force
Dan: RIT never plays well in the altitude, and after last weekend, the door is open for Air Force to kick them back east without any points. Air Force sweeps.
Chris:The Tigers are reeling from a sweep at the hands of Canisius last weekend, and have never had much success in Colorado Springs. RIT has never swept Air Force in the Springs and I don’t think it will happen this weekend. Air Force sweeps.
Canisius at Army West Point
Dan: This is going to be a weekend dictated by goaltenders – Army West Point’s Parker Gahagen and Canisius’ Charles Williams. Or as my Boston accent would dictate – Pahkah Gahagen and Chahles Williams. Army sweeps in a really close series.
Chris:This should be a hard-fought, low scoring series. Army West Point has the top penalty kill in the nation, so I’m going with that and home ice. Army sweeps.
Holy Cross at Mercyhurst
Dan: I hesitate to call this a must-win series for anyone since it’s so early in the season, but recent seasons are proving just how key every game really is. A good weekend can vault one of these teams right back into the hunt for first place. A bad weekend can push them all the way down to the bottom of the league. I don’t know who will win on what night, so I’m going with the home team to win both. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Chris:This has been a good rivalry in recent years thanks to the many post-season meetings between the schools. The Lakers’ offense struggled last weekend against Hockey East competition, while the Crusaders were flying high until suffering a setback against AIC. I think Holy Cross will be the team that rebounds. Crusaders will sweep.
Saturday, November 12 and Sunday, November 13
Robert Morris at Sacred Heart
Dan: For all of our talk about the Pioneers’ difficult schedule, they’re still 2-4-2 after tying UNH last weekend. RMU, meanwhile, is coming off of three points against THE Ohio State – the first loss of the Buckeyes’ season. Tally this one for series of the weekend. I don’t think anyone gets swept, but since we can’t pick ties, I’m going to have to do that. RMU sweeps.
Chris: RMU looked great against Ohio State last weekend, while SHU has faced a difficult schedule so far. I think this will be a split with Robert Morris winning Saturday and Sacred Heart coming back for a win on Sunday.
Tuesday, November 15
Mercyhurst at Niagara
Dan: This is the upcoming schedule of series for Niagara: at Sacred Heart, at AIC, home against RIT, at Air Force, and at Holy Cross. As they’re hunting for their first victory of the season, the calendar is doing them no favors. Mercyhurst wins.
Chris: The Lakers will be playing three games in five days while the Purple Eagles have been idle since Nov. 4. Even taking that as well as home ice into account, I think Mercyhurst will win.
