Jim Connelly

The No. 1 Boston College Eagles became the first Hockey East team to punch their ticket to the TD Garden and the Hockey East semifinal with a 3-2 victory over Massachusetts on Saturday night to sweep the best-of-three series. The victory, while enjoyable for the Eagles, was seen as one of controversy for the Minutemen, … Read more

It was hardly the easiest test, but the top-seeded Boston College Eagles passed their first exam of the postseason with a hard-fought, 2-1 victory over No. 8 seed Massachusetts Friday, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three Hockey East quarterfinal series at Kelley Rink. The BC offense was limited to just 18 shots … Read more

Dave has his rally cap on. Let’s see if he has enough to complete the comeback! Jim last week: 7-2-0 Dave last week: 8-1-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 116-71-17 Dave’s record-to-date: 115-72-17 This week, we’ll pick all three games as if they are played. If a game three isn’t played, that pick doesn’t count. (All series Friday, … Read more

Eight teams remain as we bid a fond adieu to Vermont and Northeastern. And as we take our first look forward into the Hockey East playoffs, there are some teams that enter on highs, some on lows and some somewhere in between. Here is a look at each. On highs: Heaven isn’t high enough Really, … Read more

One night after the No. 1 Boston College Eagles clinched a share of the Hockey East title, they made sure at home Saturday on Senior Night that there would be no need for the word “co” to accompany the word “champions.” The Eagles used a determined effort on both sides of the puck to shut … Read more

The No.1 Boston College Eagles clinched at least a co-championship in Hockey East on Friday night with a 5-1 victory over Vermont in front of 5,527 at BC’s Kelley Rink. The Eagles, who are two points ahead of Boston University entering the final day of the regular season, need either a win or tie on … Read more

Just a few weeks left and I have leveraged a perfectly-picked split between UMass and UNH to take a two-game lead in the standings. I’m guessing Dave is about to pull the goalie in desperation, so I hope the lead is five by next weekend. Jim last week: 7-2-1 Dave last week: 5-4-1 Jim’s record-to-date: 109-69-17 … Read more

Plenty of things to take away from this past weekend, the penultimate for Hockey East. The one that strikes me the most was BU’s resilience amid the team’s greatest controversy in memory. That tops my list of three things learned this week. 1. Nothing off the ice seems to deter this BU team on the … Read more

After a thrilling, fast-paced 3-0 Massachusetts-Lowell win over Merrimack two weekends ago, there was plenty of reason to believe that Friday’s rematch and first game of a weekend home-and-home would be a thrilling replay. Instead, the contest was a sloppy game, particularly for the visiting River Hawks, who consistently turned the puck over as Merrimack … Read more

No. 6 Massachusetts-Lowell got two goals from rookie phenom Scott Wilson, an incredible 39-save performance by goaltender Doug Carr and a bend-but-don’t-break performance from its defense in the third as the River Hawks avenged a Friday loss, splitting a weekend series with No. 2 Boston University with a 4-2 victory at Agganis Arena on Saturday. … Read more

The No. 4 Boston College Eagles, fresh off their win in the 60th Beanpot Championship, showed no signs of letting up on Friday night, jumping out to a 4-0 lead on No. 9 Merrimack en route to a 4-2 victory. The win, combined with Boston University’s victory over first-place Massachusetts-Lowell, places the Eagles and Terriers … Read more

Call me the comeback kid, the UMass-Lowell of picks, whatever. There are three weeks left in the regular season and, for the first time all year, I’m back in first place! Dave last week: 3-6-1 Jim last week: 7-2-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 97-64-14 Jim’s record-to-date: 98-63-14 Friday, February 16 Merrimack at Boston College Jim’s pick: So many difficult games … Read more