Weekend picks: Dec. 9

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Nicole and I had the same record last week, going 20-8-4 (.687). On the year, I am 191-69-33 (.708). while Nicole is 171-89-33 (.639). The action is a little lighter this weekend, so let’s get to the picks.

Friday, Dec. 9

Merrimack at Providence
Candace: I’ve like what I’ve seen of Providence, despite the Friars getting blown out by Boston College. Providence 3-2
Nicole: Going to pick the underdog here. I’ve liked the growth I’ve seen from Merrimack and I think Providence is a beatable team for them. Merrimack 3-2

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 9-10

No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth at Minnesota State
Candace: The Bulldogs are doing what they need to do, which is not lose to teams they should beat. Minnesota-Duluth 4-1, 4-2
Nicole: Despite advances by Mankato, I don’t see anything other than a UMD sweep here. Minnesota-Duluth 4-1, 5-2

No. 1 Wisconsin at Ohio State
Candace: I’d imagine the Badgers are itching for revenge, and last weekend’s offensive explosion points to good things. Wisconsin 5-1, 4-1
Nicole: The Buckeyes and Badgers tied early in the season and Kassidy Sauve seemed to have the Badgers’ number. She’s only gotten better and they’ve had trouble scoring at times. I think Wisconsin rides the high of last Sunday’s beatdown of Minnesota, but it’ll be close. Wisconsin 3-1, 3-1

No. 2 Minnesota at Boston University
Candace: These two played in the national championship game a few years ago. BU has the offense, but not the defense. Minnesota 5-3, 5-2
Nicole: I wish this was a more marquee matchup than it is this season. The Gophers will want to head into the break with something other than that Wisconsin game on their minds. Minnesota 3-1, 4-2

Union at Maine
Candace: Who is the only team to beat both BU and Boston College in Hockey East? Maine. Of course, the Black Bears have lost to just about everyone else, but I like them to get two wins at home. Maine 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: The Black Bears have shown a lot of potential, but I’m going to bet on a split here. Union 3-1, Maine 2-1

Bemidji State at RIT
Candace: Bemidji had a surprise loss last weekend to Minnesota State, but I like the Beavers to sweep here. Bemidji State 2-1, 3-1
Nicole: Much like Minnesota, Bemidji would like to erase last weekend from their heads. Even with some stumbles, I think they can outplay RIT. Bemidji State 3-1, 3-0

No. 4 Clarkson vs. Syracuse (home-and-home)
Candace: Clarkson looked fearsome last week against St. Lawrence. Syracuse just doesn’t have the depth to hang with the Golden Knights. Clarkson 4-1, 4-1
Nicole: The Orange have done well in conference, but not so great outside the CHA. Clarkson has momentum and firepower. I think they sweep. Clarkson 4-2, 3-1

Saturday, Dec. 10

Dartmouth at Vermont
Candace: Dartmouth beat Princeton and Maine, but it’s been all downhill otherwise. This should be a win for the home team, but I think it’s close. Vermont 3-2
Nicole: The Catamounts are one of the surprises of this season and they seem to just keep getting better. Vermont 4-1

New Hampshire at Yale
Candace: New Hampshire has gotten better and better as the season has gone along. Yale is a tough out, but I like the Wildcats here. New Hampshire 3-2
Nicole: UNH has quietly doing well for themselves just a point behind BU and two points behind second-place Northeastern. I expect them to win here no problem. New Hampshire 3-1

Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 9-10

St. Cloud at No. 10 North Dakota
Candace: Given North Dakota’s inconsistency, picking them to win two games against anybody is tough, but that’s what I’m going with. North Dakota 2-1, 3-2
Nicole: I’m taking a bit of a flyer and saying that St. Cloud sneaks out of Grand Forks with a win. The Huskies have shown a lot of growth and there doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason to what’s happening with the Fighting Hawks. I think the opportunity is there for SCSU if they can grab it. North Dakota 3-1, St. Cloud 3-2

Mercyhurst at Princeton
Candace: Mercyhurst is definitely in a down year. This isn’t a good way to end the first half, but I don’t see the Lakers winning here. Princeton 3-1, 4-2
Nicole: I’d be rather surprised if Princeton doesn’t sweep this series. Giving the Tigers the benefit of the doubt and picking them. Princeton 4-2, 3-1

Comments are closed.

Weekend picks: Dec. 9

by

Nicole and I had the same record last week, going 20-8-4 (.687). On the year, I am 191-69-33 (.708). while Nicole is 171-89-33 (.639). The action is a little lighter this weekend, so let’s get to the picks.

Friday, Dec. 9

Merrimack at Providence
Candace: I’ve like what I’ve seen of Providence, despite the Friars getting blown out by Boston College. Providence 3-2
Nicole: Going to pick the underdog here. I’ve liked the growth I’ve seen from Merrimack and I think Providence is a beatable team for them. Merrimack 3-2

Friday-Saturday, Dec. 9-10

No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth at Minnesota State
Candace: The Bulldogs are doing what they need to do, which is not lose to teams they should beat. Minnesota-Duluth 4-1, 4-2
Nicole: Despite advances by Mankato, I don’t see anything other than a UMD sweep here. Minnesota-Duluth 4-1, 5-2

No. 1 Wisconsin at Ohio State
Candace: I’d imagine the Badgers are itching for revenge, and last weekend’s offensive explosion points to good things. Wisconsin 5-1, 4-1
Nicole: The Buckeyes and Badgers tied early in the season and Kassidy Sauve seemed to have the Badgers’ number. She’s only gotten better and they’ve had trouble scoring at times. I think Wisconsin rides the high of last Sunday’s beatdown of Minnesota, but it’ll be close. Wisconsin 3-1, 3-1

No. 2 Minnesota at Boston University
Candace: These two played in the national championship game a few years ago. BU has the offense, but not the defense. Minnesota 5-3, 5-2
Nicole: I wish this was a more marquee matchup than it is this season. The Gophers will want to head into the break with something other than that Wisconsin game on their minds. Minnesota 3-1, 4-2

Union at Maine
Candace: Who is the only team to beat both BU and Boston College in Hockey East? Maine. Of course, the Black Bears have lost to just about everyone else, but I like them to get two wins at home. Maine 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: The Black Bears have shown a lot of potential, but I’m going to bet on a split here. Union 3-1, Maine 2-1

Bemidji State at RIT
Candace: Bemidji had a surprise loss last weekend to Minnesota State, but I like the Beavers to sweep here. Bemidji State 2-1, 3-1
Nicole: Much like Minnesota, Bemidji would like to erase last weekend from their heads. Even with some stumbles, I think they can outplay RIT. Bemidji State 3-1, 3-0

No. 4 Clarkson vs. Syracuse (home-and-home)
Candace: Clarkson looked fearsome last week against St. Lawrence. Syracuse just doesn’t have the depth to hang with the Golden Knights. Clarkson 4-1, 4-1
Nicole: The Orange have done well in conference, but not so great outside the CHA. Clarkson has momentum and firepower. I think they sweep. Clarkson 4-2, 3-1

Saturday, Dec. 10

Dartmouth at Vermont
Candace: Dartmouth beat Princeton and Maine, but it’s been all downhill otherwise. This should be a win for the home team, but I think it’s close. Vermont 3-2
Nicole: The Catamounts are one of the surprises of this season and they seem to just keep getting better. Vermont 4-1

New Hampshire at Yale
Candace: New Hampshire has gotten better and better as the season has gone along. Yale is a tough out, but I like the Wildcats here. New Hampshire 3-2
Nicole: UNH has quietly doing well for themselves just a point behind BU and two points behind second-place Northeastern. I expect them to win here no problem. New Hampshire 3-1

Saturday-Sunday, Dec. 9-10

St. Cloud at No. 10 North Dakota
Candace: Given North Dakota’s inconsistency, picking them to win two games against anybody is tough, but that’s what I’m going with. North Dakota 2-1, 3-2
Nicole: I’m taking a bit of a flyer and saying that St. Cloud sneaks out of Grand Forks with a win. The Huskies have shown a lot of growth and there doesn’t seem to be rhyme or reason to what’s happening with the Fighting Hawks. I think the opportunity is there for SCSU if they can grab it. North Dakota 3-1, St. Cloud 3-2

Mercyhurst at Princeton
Candace: Mercyhurst is definitely in a down year. This isn’t a good way to end the first half, but I don’t see the Lakers winning here. Princeton 3-1, 4-2
Nicole: I’d be rather surprised if Princeton doesn’t sweep this series. Giving the Tigers the benefit of the doubt and picking them. Princeton 4-2, 3-1

Comments are closed.

Weekend picks: Dec. 9

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A small slate, and tons of nonconference matchups, so here are my picks of some of the interesting games.

Friday, Dec. 9

Hamilton at No. 7 Oswego
Oswego has been slowly climbing up in the polls. Their five-game winning streak started with a victory over top-ranked Plattsburgh. With just five games under their belt, Hamilton will need to catch up to speed quickly if they want to have a chance. Oswego junior Olivia Ellis is third in the country with 23 points and freshman Jacquelin White has nine goals and 10 assists through the first 12 games. Junior goalie Sam Walther has a .972 save percentage for Hamilton. Oswego 4-2

No. 10 Augsburg at Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Augsburg has battled into no. 10 on the polls, winning eight of their last nine. Wis.-Stevens Point has been unable to find any consistency so far this season, but is looking to gain some ground. Augsburg’s Rebecca Sonnet is third in the country with a .967 save percentage. Augsburg 3-1

Saturday, Dec. 10

Manhattanville at Williams
Williams is just seven games into the season and its two losses were at the hands of Oswego. Manhattanville has won five of the last six, including two overtime wins. Giving the home team the nod here. Williams 3-2

Massachusetts-Boston at No. 8 Connecticut College
Connecticut College is allowing just 1.5 goals a game and goalie Julie Chester is proving crucial to their run so far. Mass.-Boston is coming off an overtime win over William Smith. The Camels will take this one. Connecticut College 4-2