Game picks by USCHO writers
Remember this? Published March 5, it was the last Big Ten column before the playoffs last season. Remember this? Published March 6, it was Drew Claussen’s B1G picks blog for the Big Ten playoffs. So abrupt was the end of last season, so momentous the months in between, that March 2020 feels like a lifetime … Read more
Last Week: Dan: 0-0-0 Chris: 0-0-0 On The Season: Dan: 0-0-0 (.000) Chris: 0-0-0 (.000) This Week’s Picks: Saturday, November 14 LIU at Army West Point Chris: The season begins with another variation of the Riley bowl, this time between Army West Point coach Brian Riley, in his 17th season, and Long Island University’s Brett … Read more
The 12-team field was set and besides the seeded teams awaiting to learn who their quarterfinal opponent will be, there was a lot of suspense for the first round games where none of the pairings finds any prior game action between the combatants during the regular season. This should have made for some interesting action … Read more
It is impossible to wrap my head around the abrupt end of college hockey season. This isn’t news to you by now, I’m sure, but there will be no more college hockey (or NCAA anything) for the immediate future. The last 72 hours have been surreal. Many of you know that I teach at Mott … Read more
Last Week: Dan: 5-3-0 Chris: 7-1-0 On The Season: Dan: 147-58-23 (.695) Chris: 140-65-23 (.664) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15 Atlantic Hockey Tournament – Quarterfinals Best of Three Series Robert Morris at Sacred Heart Chris: This series starts on Thursday, with Game Two on Friday and a possible Game Three … Read more
Overtime periods in the quarterfinals could affect the play of a number of teams in this week’s women’s DI semifinals.
Well, here we go. Three conference titles in the west will be decided tonight. Two of the championship games (the MIAC and NCHA) have automatic bids on the line. The WIAC does not have an auto bid but at least one team should get in. Here are my game picks for the title games. MIAC … Read more
The WCHA playoffs are finally here, and we’ve actually got a bunch of very good matchups this weekend. The top two seeds, Minnesota State and Bemidji State, both appear to have easier draws than the other two teams with home ice, which is to be expected, but there’s always the chance for an upset in … Read more
It is finally the weekend teams all aspired to way back in the fall of 2019. Championship weekend is here and there is hope for all the remaining teams to hoist their conference championship trophy. No need for hype – coaches likely focused on trying to keep teams on an even keel for the big … Read more
The Big Ten Tournament gets underway this weekend with Ohio State, Michigan and Minnesota hosting Wisconsin, Michigan State and Notre Dame. After wrapping up the regular-season title while watching the games on TV last weekend, Penn State will once again be idle this weekend after it earned the bye week for the first round. … Read more
Last Week: Dan: 6-4-0 Chris: 5-5-0 On The Season: Dan: 142-55-23 (.698) Chris: 133-64-23 (.657) This Week’s Picks: Friday, March 6 through Sunday, March 8 Atlantic Hockey Tournament – First Round Best of Three Series Canisius at Bentley Chris: Canisius took four of six points in the teams’ only regular season meetings, but I like … Read more
It’s hard to believe we are at the end point of the NCHC’s seventh season. I’ve covered the league with Matthew every year since it’s inception, and I love doing so. Last week, Matthew and I went 6-2 (.750). On the year, I am now 90-55-22 (.604), while Matthew is 85-60-22 (.574). Amazingly, I’ve won … Read more
The regular season is over and playoff hockey is here. I had a strong finish to move past Mark in the final week, but the playoffs are a whole new game. All series are best-of-three. Friday and Saturday’s games start at 7 p.m., while Sunday’s start times vary. Nate Last week: 9-1-2 Overall: 135-65-26 Mark … Read more
The final weekend of the regular season with plenty of positioning on the line. My positioning against Dave? Well, it’s improved (how about calling one of those UVM wins last week!?), but time is so short a comeback seems highly unlikely. Jim last week: 6-2-1 Dave last week: 4-4-1 Jim to date: 122-81-26 Dave to … Read more
It’s the final weeknend of the regular season and there’s a ton on the oline. Most notably, the MacNaughton Cup will be lifted by either Bemidji State or Minnesota State, who play one another at the Sanford Center. But (nearly) every other WCHA team is also playing for something this weekend. It should be a … Read more
It is a quick turnaround for many teams entering the playoffs and the final push towards a conference championship. Upsets abounded last weekend and already this week with Nazareth, Wentworth and Potsdam all taking out higher seeds in conference tournament play. Now is a time where the cream needs to rise to the top in … Read more
It all comes down to this weekend for B1G Hockey. Spoiler alert: Drew Claussen’s picks have Ohio State winning the regular-season title, and I have Minnesota on top. Given my picks record this season, I think that’s good news for either Ohio State or Penn State. Last week Drew: 1-4-1 (.250) Paula: 2-3-1 (.417) This … Read more
The first round of the conference tournaments kicks off playoff action in women’s D-III, and Candace sees the favorites moving on in her picks.
The matchups are set and it’s time to play some win-or-go-home hockey. The semifinal round of the MIAC and NCHA tournaments are set for Saturday and it’s just a one-game setting. In the WIAC, the semifinalists will play a two-game series starting tonight. Here are my picks on how the games will play out this … Read more
Heading into the last weekend of the regular season, the top two teams and the bottom two teams in the standings are set, but there is lots of room for movement among most of the other eight. Here’s a look at the upcoming games on the schedule. All games start at 7 p.m. except for … Read more