Game picks by USCHO writers
Coming down to the last few weeks, there is so much uncertainty in the CCHA — and the standings are so very close — that it’s overwhelming to consider all the permutations. Here are a few interesting tidbits, though: Ferris State and Western Michigan are the only two teams near the top of the standings … Read more
Jim and I finally put together an excellent week. Let’s see if we can make it two in a row. Dave last week: 10-1-0 Jim last week: 10-1-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 94-58-13 Jim’s record-to-date: 91-61-13 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, February 10 Maine at Providence Dave’s pick: Two teams going in different directions. The Black Bears … Read more
Nebraska-Omaha (12-11-5, 9-7-4 WCHA) at Michigan Tech (13-13-2, 10-8-2 WCHA) Tyler: The hotels will be full in Houghton this weekend with the annual Winter Carnival, but the Mavericks won’t be lodging in them. UNO will stay 45 minutes away in Baraga, Mich., according to the Omaha World Herald. The Huskies haven’t exactly derived any kind of an … Read more
Come Monday morning there will be just two weekends left in the regular season of ECAC play. Seems hard to believe, doesn’t it? Here’s a look at what’s on tap for this weekend. Last week: 4-7 Overall: 48-48 Friday, Feb. 10 Brown at Cornell With Union playing just one game, Cornell has a chance to … Read more
Last Week: 5-5-1 On the Season: 132-56-24 (.679) This Week’s Picks: Thursday, Feb. 9 and Saturday, Feb. 11 Rochester Institute of Technology vs. Canisius – The Golden Griffins defeated the Tigers earlier this season, snapping an eight-game winless streak against the Tigers. I think RIT, coming off a pair of stinging losses at Air Force, … Read more
It’s the beginning of the end — of this season, anyway. Here’s how I’m doing: Last week: 6-3-1 Season to date: 95-63-23 (.588) Remember that adage about a broken clock and the frequency of its accuracy? Yeah. Like that. This week Everyone plays this weekend. All series are Friday-Saturday, single site. The games in Ann … Read more
Last Week: 4-7-2 On the Season: 127-51-23 (.689) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4 Rochester Institute of Technology at Air Force – The Tigers won the only meeting so far between the two teams back in November, which evened the all-time series between the teams at 14-14-3. I’m expecting two close … Read more
Bemidji State (12-12-2, 6-10-2 WCHA) at Nebraska-Omaha (15-10-2, 11-9-0 WCHA) Tyler: UNO’s goaltending is highly questionable with Ryan Massa questionable after he suffered a concussion against Minnesota State, Jan. 21. He’s been the one guy to emerge from UNO’s goaltending situation with stability. He allowed three goals on 110 shots in his last three games but … Read more
Yet another mediocre weekend of picks for Dave and me. Guess that’s a product of how tight this league is. Jim’s last week: 5-4-0 Dave’s last week: 5-4-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 81-60-13 Dave’s record-to-date: 84-57-13 Friday, February 3 Boston University at Merrimack Jim’s pick: Even though I rarely pick against Merrimack at home (though did last weekend and … Read more
Friday, February 3 Colgate at Union This is the Game of the Night… and the only reason it’s not the Game of the Week is because there is an equally intriguing Union-Cornell game on Saturday. This is the first meeting of the season between these teams, and Union is both ahead in the standings and … Read more
What a strange season. In one of those if-the-season-were-to-end-today scenarios, seven CCHA teams would likely make the NCAA tournament; all seven of those teams are currently ranked. Lake Superior State just dropped out of the current rankings. To be honest, I don’t know what to think. In past years when the CCHA has appeared strong … Read more
Was there a more pathetic performance last weekend than my picks? I’ll give you Kyle Williams and Billy Cundiff but can you name a third? I didn’t think so. Dave last week: 4-6-0 Jim last week: 5-5-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 79-53-13 Jim’s record-to-date: 76-56-13 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, January 27 Maine at Boston University Dave’s pick: … Read more
Minnesota State (8-17-1, 4-13-1 WCHA) at Bemidji State (11-11-2, 5-9-2 WCHA) Tyler: Minnesota State had one of the worst power plays in the WCHA, but its clicking since Christmas, converting seven times in 26 attmepts. The Beavers are killing at a league-worst 76.4-percent rate over that stretch but this doesn’t make the Mavericks good enough to … Read more
Here we go…the last weekend of January is here. There’s ten games on tap for Friday and Saturday, including a pair of televised matchups tonight. Last week: 3-6 Overall: 37-37 Friday, Jan. 27 Brown at Dartmouth These are two teams that are maddeningly frustrating to figure out. Brown gets shut out by last place RPI … Read more
Last Week: 7-3-3 On the Season: 123-44-21 (.710) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Jan. 27 and Saturday, Jan. 28 Niagara vs. Robert Morris – The former CHA rivals are currently in fifth and third place, respectively, with just two points separating them. The teams, who tied 2-2 earlier this season, play at RMU on Friday and … Read more
It’s impossible that we’re in the third week of January — with only six weekends of regular-season hockey remaining — but here we are. How have I done this season? Sigh. My picks percentage is as brutal as the temperature this morning in Flint. Last week: 5-3-2 Season to date: 82-58-20 (.575) I am grateful … Read more
Nebraska-Omaha (11-9-4, 8-5-3 WCHA) at Minnesota State (7-16-1, 3-12-1 WCHA) Tyler: The goaltending job at UNO should be Ryan Massa’s to lose going into this weekend after his last two performances, holding Quinnipiac to one goal on 25 shots and Minnesota-Duluth to one goal on 44 shots. Minnesota State’s offense is not all that explosive … Read more
Well, we have some good news for many of you: even though this has already been a painfully long season for some, by the end of this weekend, the race for the league title will still be completely wide open. No one is on the brink of any mathematical eliminations (yet). Nate: I’m a little … Read more
Neither Dave nor I had stellar weeks, but at least I picked up a game on the old man (finally!) Jim’s last week: 5-3-1 Dave’s last week: 4-4-1 Jim’s record-to-date: 71-51-13 Dave’s record-to-date: 75-47-13 Friday, January 20 Providence at BU Jim’s pick: Love the way the Terriers are playing right now. Providence, not so much. … Read more
Last Week: 9-2-1 On the Season: 116-41-18 (.714) This Week’s Picks: Friday, Jan. 20 and Saturday, Jan. 21 Air Force at Army – Always a highly anticipated series, these games have been sold out for a week and Friday’s contest will be carried by CBS Sports Network. Air Force is 0-5-1 in its last six … Read more