Game picks by USCHO writers
Minnesota State v Wisconsin: Matthew: Mike Hastings was richly deserving of his WCHA Coach of the Year honors this season as MSU has been marvelous in their first year under his tutelage. The problem, though, is that the Mavericks are winless all-time in the Final Five and were taken to the three-game limit last week … Read more
Last week: 4-0 It’s the last weekend of hockey at campus sites across the league, as the ECAC is set to head to Atlantic City next weekend for the semifinals and championship. I picked all four opening round series correctly, although I did pick Cornell and Princeton to go to three games. Here’s a look … Read more
Last Week: 5-3 On the Season: 140-75-29 (.623) This Week’s Picks: Atlantic Hockey Quarterfinals (Best of Three Series) March 15-17 Updated from last week: There have been 29 best-of-three series in Atlantic Hockey history, played either in the first or quarterfinal rounds. The home team won 28 of them. Read more about each series in … Read more
No. 12 seed at Alaska-Anchorage at No. 1 St. Cloud State: Matthew: Alaska-Anchorage took a pair of poundings last Friday and Sunday at Denver, losing the teams’ two games by a combined 13-2, and this weekend doesn’t look any brighter for the Seawolves. UAA head coach Dave Shyiak is in the final season of his … Read more
I knew the series in Fairbanks and Sault Ste. Marie would go to three games. I was wrong, however, about who would advance from those series. Last week: 4-4-0 (.500) Season to date: 122-90-29 (.566) Typical. This week This is the second round of the CCHA playoffs. The winners from these four series advance to … Read more
There are a maximum of 15 games remaining to be played in Hockey East. I enter this weekend eight games behind Dave. I should be waving the white flag. But my never-give-up mentality is keeping me alive. Then again, Dave can just match all of my picks this weekend and I’m done. So let’s just … Read more
Last Week: 6-4-2 On the Season: 135-72-29 (.623) For comparison purposes, here’s my success rate at picking the results at this point in the season over the past few years: 2007: .634 2008: .651 2009: .653 2010: .636 2011: .598 2012: .678 This Week’s Picks: Atlantic Hockey First Round (Best of Three Series) March … Read more
For a while there, my plummeting position in the picks race was starting to resemble the September, 2011 Red Sox. I became so despondent, I had to console myself with a bucket of fried chicken. Fortunately, the proper order to the universe has been restored, which means my lead widened by another two games last … Read more
The last regular-season weekend of the CCHA was exciting. It was also difficult — and I’m not talking about my picks. Last week: 8-3-1 (.708) Season to date: 118-86-29 (.569) I don’t know how that happened. This week We begin the CCHA playoffs this weekend with three best-of-three series at single sites. Times are local. … Read more
Last week: 9-2-1 Final regular season record: 100-95-31 Three of the four teams that had a bye last year are in action during this weekend’s first round – all on the road. Cornell, Colgate, and Harvard all have a bit longer trip if they want to make it back to Atlantic City in two weeks. … Read more
No. 8 St. Cloud State at No. 14 Wisconsin: Matthew: Thanks to the Wisconsin high school state basketball championships going on at UW’s Kohl Center, this series will take place at Madison, Wis.’s much older Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Many Badgers fans aren’t over the moon about it – the two games aren’t part of the … Read more
Last week: 6-5-1 Overall: 91-93-30 I hit a bit of a slump down the stretch, so I’ll need a hot finish to push me over .500 for the year. Regardless, there’s a lot of the line in the ECAC’s final weekend of the regular season. Check Brian Sullivan’s post from earlier this week for … Read more
Last Week: 7-6-1 On the Season: 129-68-27 (.636) This Week’s Picks: Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 Niagara at Air Force – The Purple Eagles can almost guarantee themselves an at-large bid in the NCAA tournament with a sweep. At most, Niagara can lose two more games after this weekend, and that probably … Read more
No. 16 Wisconsin at No. 13 Nebraska-Omaha: Tyler: In a battle of two teams that need two wins, I’m giving UNO a slight edge but I’m not going with a sweep. If the Badgers settle into their structured defensive style and take away UNO’s speed, they’ll have chance to come away with a win, but … Read more
Dave may have felt he was done in by the Curse of Nicole. Personally, I was done in by the Curse of Making Bad Picks. The white flag is in my hand right now, just about ready to be waved. Jim last week: 5-5-1 Jim to date: 94-71-20 Dave last week: 7-3-1 Dave to date: … Read more
I think that this is the first time in my tenure as CCHA columnist for USCHO.com that I’m glad that all 11 teams make the playoffs. I’ve never been an advocate of letting everyone into the playoffs. I like the idea of someone not having played well enough to earn a chance to make it … Read more
Note: Penn State and Wisconsin are set to take part in a rare Sunday-Monday series in Madison, Wis.. The two-game set was pushed back due to the Wisconsin high school wrestling championships taking place at UW’s Kohl Center over the past few days. Penn State at No. 18 Wisconsin: Matthew: I can’t get over a … Read more
Last week: 3-7-1 Overall: 85-88-29 Quinnipiac’s unbeaten streak finally ended last weekend. Now the Bobcats will be looking for their second win this month against local rival Yale. That game, which will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network, is the highlight of the weekend, along with senior nights for Princeton, Clarkson, St. Lawrence, Cornell, … Read more
Last Week: 7-5-1 On the Season: 122-62-26 (.643) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Feb. 22 and Saturday, Feb. 23 Holy Cross vs. AIC – The Yellow Jackets are one of the hottest teams in the league while the Crusaders had a huge stumble on Tuesday, a 7-3 loss to previously winless Sacred Heart. I’m reversing … Read more
As we head into the penultimate weekend of CCHA regular-season play — ever — here’s how I’ve done so far. Last week: 3-6-1 (.350) Season to date: 106-79-26 (.564) I suppose I should content myself with the possibility of an overall regular-season picks record above .500. This week With two weekends left, every game in … Read more