Matthew and I picked two series differently, but ended the weekend with the same 7-5-2 ho-hum record. On the year, I am 13-9-3 while Matthew is 11-11-3. We’ve got an old WCHA rivalry highlight the offerings this week, as North Dakota hosts Minnesota.

Friday-Saturday, Oct. 21-22

Lake Superior at No. 1 Denver
Candace: Look for Denver’s potent offense to lead the Pioneers to a sweep as they raise last season’s championship banner. Denver 4-1, 4-1
Matthew: Tough to see anything other than a Pioneers sweep here. Denver 4-1, 4-2

Miami at Maine
Candace: I thought Miami would do better last time out. Both teams were off last weekend. I’m calling for Miami to sweep hoping I get one win right. Miami 3-2, 3-2
Matthew: I like Miami to get its first counter win of the season, but I’m not confident enough to call for a sweep. Miami 3-2, Maine 3-2

No. 13 Boston College at No. 3 St. Cloud State
Candace: St. Cloud has shown it can score in bunches, which is good, since the Huskies also give up lots of goals. I’m going to go for the league homer sweep pick. St. Cloud State 4-2, 5-4
Matthew: This might come back to bite me in our predictions contest, but I like the Huskies to sweep here. St. Cloud State 3-2, 3-1

Merrimack at No. 9 Minnesota Duluth
Candace: Minnesota Duluth has struggled out of the gate, but I think home ice will help. Minnesota Duluth 3-1, 3-1
Matthew: I’ll take the Bulldogs to get back on track here after a difficult series with Bemidji State. Minnesota Duluth 3-2, 3-1

No. 8 Minnesota at No. 4 North Dakota
Candace: I’m going out on a limb here and picking North Dakota to sweep. North Dakota 3-2, 3-2
Matthew: Minnesota has made an early pattern of ending weekends better than the Gophers have started them. Don’t be surprised if that happens again here. North Dakota 4-2, Minnesota 3-2

Colorado College at No. 17 New Hampshire
Candace: The Tigers have started strong, but I think New Hampshire is on a mission in coach Dick Umile’s last season. New Hampshire 3-2, 3-2
Matthew: Colorado College has started the season well, but hasn’t yet faced a team as good as UNH. I want to say CC will steal a win here, but I don’t know that it happens. New Hampshire 3-2, 3-1

Arizona State at Omaha
Candace: Omaha looked good against Lowell, and I think home ice will help the Mavericks to a sweep. Omaha 3-2, 3-1
Matthew: ASU played Air Force tight twice last weekend, but Omaha might be a tougher test. Omaha 4-2, 3-1

Michigan State vs Western Michigan (home-and-home)
Candace: The Broncos haven’t looked great since their opening win, but I’m going with the league homer pick. Western Michigan 3-2, 3-1
Matthew: I tend to go with the home teams in these sort of series, but I’m going to take a small leap and go with a Western sweep. Western Michigan 3-2, 3-2

I put some distance between me and Nicole in our annual picks contest last weekend. I went 16-7-1, while Nicole went 10-13-1. On the year, I am 43-15-8, while Nicole is 37-21-8.

Friday, Oct. 20

Dartmouth at Harvard
Candace: I have to go with home ice, and figure Harvard will shake off last year’s awful season. Harvard 3-1
Nicole: Harvard should be able to take this, but I’m definitely interested to see what the Crimson look like this season. I’ll say Harvard until we have more information. Harvard 2-0

Boston University at Maine
Candace: I figure at some point BU will finally get untracked, and here is as good as anyplace. Boston University 3-2
Nicole: I’m picking Maine at home here. Maine 3-1

Boston College at Connecticut
Candace: The Eagles have started strong. Boston College 4-1
Nicole: I expect this to be a win for BC. Boston College 4-1

New Hampshire at Vermont
Candace: I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the Wildcats so far. New Hampshire 3-2
Nicole: I think Vermont gets things a bit back on track with a win here. Vermont 3-0

Friday-Saturday, Oct. 20-21

Ohio State at St. Cloud State
Candace: Ohio State keeps rolling. Ohio State 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: Buckeyes should sweep. Ohio State 4-1, 2-0

Minnesota at Minnesota-Duluth
Candace: The hardest series to pick on the weekend. Neither team has looked stellar so far. I’ll call the Gophers to sweep and hope I get one game right. Minnesota 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: It’s a bit difficult to know how these two will match up right now, so I’ll call a split. Both teams will be gunning for each other and have their own reasons to want the wins. Minnesota-Duluth 2-1, Minnesota 4-2

Bemidji State at Wisconsin
Candace: Wisconsin hasn’t looked pretty, but they’ve been getting things done. Wisconsin 3-1
Nicole: Badgers should sweep. Wisconsin 4-2, 4-1

Robert Morris at Brown
Candace: The Colonials haven’t looked consistent so far, but as this is Brown’s opening series, I’ll give the edge to the visitors. Robert Morris 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: Robert Morris sweeps. Robert Morris 2-0, 4-1

Mercyhurst at Colgate
Candace: Mercyhurst might make one game interesting. Colgate 4-1, 3-2
Nicole: The way Colgate has looked, I expect them to sweep at home. Colgate 5-2, 5-1

Penn State at Merrimack
Candace: Merrimack has been inconsistent, but the Warriors can score more. Merrimack 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: I expected a bit more from Penn State thus far and Merrimack continues to grow. I’ll take the Warriors to sweep. Merrimack 3-2, 1-0

Providence at Princeton
Candace: Can the Tigers overcome the hurdle of the new coach? Sure, why not. Princeton 2-1, 3-2
Nicole: Without seeing the Tigers yet, I’ll pick a split. Providence 3-0, Princeton 2-0

Yale at RIT
Candace: I like the Elis to get a sweep here, especially after RIT couldn’t put a dent in Rensselaer last weekend. Yale 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: I’m taking the experience of Yale’s upperclassmen to sweep here. Yale 2-1, 3-2

Clarkson vs. St. Lawrence (home-and-home)
Candace: St. Lawrence has been inconsistent, but that rarely matters when the two rivals meet. Goaltending makes the difference. Clarkson 3-2, 4-2
Nicole: I’m not sure I’ve ever picked a tie in these picks, but I’m doing it here. Clarkson appears to be the better team this year, but that rarely matters when these rivals meet up. I’ll call a tie in the first game and a Clarkson win in the second. Tie, 2-2, Clarkson 4-2

Northeastern at Syracuse
Candace: Syracuse might steal a win, but I think Northeastern does get the sweep. Northeastern 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: The Huskies should bounce back with a sweep. Northeastern 2-1, 4-2

Sunday, Oct. 22

Connecticut at Boston University
Candace: I like the Terriers to get some traction out of this weekend. Boston University 3-1
Nicole: BU should be able to win this one at home. Boston University 3-1

Boston College at Vermont
Candace: Unlike Nicole, I haven’t been that impressed by Vermont so far. Boston College 4-1
Nicole: Picking BC, but thinking the Catamounts have it in them to really push the Eagles. Boston College 4-3

Dartmouth at New Hampshire
Candace: It’s early, so perhaps Dartmouth will get better, but it won’t matter here. New Hampshire 3-1
Nicole: New Hampshire wins the in-state battle. New Hampshire 3-2

Wednesday

New Hampshire at Northeastern
Candace: I like the Huskies at home. Northeastern 4-2
Nicole: Northeastern wins. Northeastern 3-1