Game picks by USCHO writers
Dave “pulled the goalie” last week in a desperate attempt to close ground, but as usually happens when that tactic is employed, he just widened the gap. With just these three games left, Jim has clinched the picks title. A tip of the fedora to Jimmy (and a well-timed one on St. Patrick’s Day)! Dave last … Read more
“It’s do or die. It happens at every level. Once you get to the playoffs, guys get to a new gear, and it’s just a lot more intense and a lot more physical. The speed’s faster. It’s more fun to play in the playoffs, just because of all those factors.” That is how Notre Dame … Read more
Last Week: 1-3 On the Season: 103-69-28 (.585) I already previewed the four quarterfinal series in this week’s Atlantic Hockey Column, so let’s get right down to the picks. AHA Quarterfinals – Best of Three Series Friday, March 11, Saturday, March 12, and Sunday, March 13 (if necessary) American International at RIT – The Tigers … Read more
Jim gained a little on Dave in the final week of the regular season, which at this point is like insult to injury. Dave last week: 5-3-2 Jim last week: 6-2-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 100-36-30 (.692) Jim’s record-to-date: 111-33-28 (.726) Here are this week’s picks for the Hockey East quarterfinal series (series days listed in parenthesis; … Read more
Last Week: 6-4-2 On the Season: 102-66-25 (.593) I already previewed the four first round playoff games in this week’s Atlantic Hockey column, so let’s go right to the picks: Saturday, February 26 Canisius at Niagara – These schools are sports rivals and never has so much been on the line as they meet in … Read more
The race between Jim and me is getting close to a mathematical close-out, but I’m still holding out hope that he’ll choke like the New York Yankees. Dave last week: 5-2-3 Jim last week: 5-2-3 Dave’s record-to-date: 95-35-28 Jim’s record-to-date: 105-31-26 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, March 4 Boston University at Northeastern Dave’s pick: In … Read more
It’s playoff hockey time, and this weekend the CCHA begins its first round of best-of-three series with the bottom six teams in the league competing to advance to next week’s quarterfinal round. Frankly, I think the top eight teams should be in with the bottom three sitting it out, but I’m old-fashioned that way. Remember, … Read more
I already did some off-the-cuff analysis of the series in yesterday’s column, so here’s a little more. Don’t take me too seriously, though: Like the first games of the year, the first games after the holiday break, and the last games of the regular season, the playoffs have so little to do with precedent and … Read more
The last weekend of regular-season play – how strange it seems to be writing that, because it feels as though October was just a week ago. There is so much at stake this weekend and so much can change with just a point that the drama quotient for every game is exceptionally high. When it’s … Read more
Last week: 7-3-1 On the season: 96-62-23 (.593) Two first-round byes are still up in the air going into the final weekend of the regular season. All of the series are home-and-home with the obvious exception of Air Force and Robert Morris. Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26 Robert Morris at Air Force – … Read more
This is the toughest time of the year to make predictions, because so many teams are playing on emotion rather than simple talent. It’s the time of year where a bottom-dweller could easily upset a top-four team, if they simply want it more… so here come some pretty brutal predictions, because frankly, I have no … Read more
Dave finally gained some ground on me, but at this point I hear a fat woman singing a sweet tune. Dave last week: 8-0-2 Jim last week: 6-2-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 90-33-25 (.692) Jim’s record-to-date: 100-29-23 (.734) Here are this week’s picks Friday, February 25 Vermont at Boston University Jim’s pick: I think the Cats are playing well … Read more
Jim and I both had a tough time with last week’s picks, allowing him to maintain his gargantuan lead. I would have narrowed the gap by a game if not for a desperation pick, but that would have just been a snowflake off the top of a glacier. Dave last week: 5-4-1 Jim last week: 5-4-1 Dave’s record-to-date: … Read more
And doooowwn the stretch they come; will Union falter? Will Yale leapfrog to the front again? Will I finish with a .667 prediction percentage? All these questions and more, to be answered in the coming weeks! Prediction precision Season: 121-57-20 (.662) This week All times Eastern Friday, February 18 Brown at Princeton – 7:00 Brown … Read more
First, a thanks and an apology Thank you to my friends and colleagues, Bob Miller and Jeff Svoboda. Bob is USCHO’s arena reporter at Yost, and Jeff covers Buckeye hockey for the Buckeye Sports Bulletin. In yesterday’s column, I used quotes from OSU head coach Mark Osiecki that Bob forwarded to me by email and … Read more
Last week: 4-7-1 On the season: 89-59-22 (.588) While Rochester Institute of Technology has locked up first place, the other 11 positions in Atlantic Hockey are still up for grabs, with some key series ahead. Thursday, February 17 and Saturday, February 19 Niagara vs. Canisius – The Battle for the Bridge series may also determine … Read more
Last week: 5-5-1 On the season: 85-52-21 (.604) This week, the third last in the regular season, features more intra-pod matchups with half the series using a home-and-home format. Friday, February 11 and Saturday, February 12 Niagara at Air Force – Air Force won the earlier meeting, 7-4 at Niagara. The former CHA members have … Read more
We’re getting down to it and the league is becoming less predictable – for me at least, apparently. Last week: 2-7-1 (.250) Season to date: 87-60-21 (.580) With three weekends left in the regular season, every series this week is bound to be hotly contested. Every team plays this weekend; Ferris State welcomes Alabama-Huntsville for … Read more
Dave picked up a game on me last week but that’s kind of like saying he climbed the first mile of Mt. Everest. Dave last week: 8-1-1 Jim last week: 7-2-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 77-29-22 (.688) Jim’s record-to-date: 89-23-20 (.750) Here are this week’s picks Friday, February 11 Vermont at Maine Jim’s pick: I have a feeling that Vermont … Read more
Geez, 19 blogs devoted to picks already? Crazy. Onto the madness! Prediction precision Season record: 116-51-19 (.675) This week All times Eastern Friday, February 11 Yale at St. Lawrence – 7:00 Good heavens, Yale is mortal… on the road at least. Away from home, the Bulldogs are 5-4-0 overall, 4-3-0 in conference. Unfortunately, the Saints … Read more