Last week:
Dan: 4-7-1
Chris: 6-5-1
On the season:
Dan: 69-57-19 (.541)
Chris: 78-48-19 (.603)
This Week’s Picks
Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20
Niagara at Holy Cross
Chris: This should be a great battle between teams at the top of the standings – Holy Cross is tied with Canisius for first with Niagara just two points behind. I was leaning towards a split here, but since I can’t decide who wins each night, I’m going with a Holy Cross sweep.
Dan: If you’re like me, Holy Cross really snuck up on you as a first place team. This week, they take on their purple counterparts from WNY. This is a huge series for the Crusaders, who only have one weekend home series left on the season. Holy Cross sweeps.
American International at Mercyhurst
Chris: Mercyhurst is playing its best hockey of the season right now, currently riding a three-game winning streak. While AIC poses a legitimate threat to take at least one of these games, I’m going with the home team. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Dan: Mercyhurst is 43-8-1 all-time against the Yellow Jackets, including an 8-2 swing in the last 10 games. For what it’s worth, both of those victories were in Erie, where the Yellow Jackets won last season. Everyone knows I’m all in on AIC by now, but I know there will be a hiccup somewhere along the line. I think it happens this week against a fellow fourth-place Laker team. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Canisius at Rochester Institute of Technology
Chris: The Tigers are really struggling right now, winless in their last five games. It’s been especially rough going for RIT at home, and that will probably continue against the first-place Golden Griffins. Canisius sweeps.
Dan: RIT historically dominated this series, but the Tigers haven’t beaten the Griffs since January, 2016. I don’t think that changes this weekend. Canisius sweeps.
Bentley at Robert Morris
Chris: It looks like the Colonials have found their groove after an inconsistent first half of the season. A 2-1 loss to No. 11 Providence is RMU’s only blemish since early December. On the other hand, Bentley is winless in 2018 (0-4-2). I’m picking a Robert Morris sweep.
Dan: Bentley’s had recent success against RMU, winning four out of six games since losing in three games in Pittsburgh in the 2016 postseason. But they’ve been really fighting it since coming back from break. This weekend is falling at a bad time for them and an advantageous time for the Colonials. Robert Morris sweeps.
Sacred Heart at Air Force
Chris: I think goaltending may be the difference here, and Air Force has that advantage with Billy Christopolous playing his best hockey of the season right now. Air Force sweeps.
Dan: Both teams are finding a groove, but Air Force is just a little bit groovier than the Pioneers. Air Force sweeps.
