Game picks by USCHO writers
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
Last week: 4-3-4 On the season: 80-47-20 (.612) This week features home-and-home series with one exception – it’s a long commute between Rochester and Colorado Springs. Air Force at Rochester Institute of Technology – These games are usually close with 14 of the last 18 meetings decided by two goals or less. Air Force holds … Read more
I don’t know what the weather was like this week in your part of the world, but here in Flint, Mich., we got a real winter storm, part of what the meteorologists are calling an “inland hurricane.” When I was growing up in Syracuse, N.Y., we just called it “winter.” I hope you are all … Read more
Prediction precision Season record: 106-50-18 (.661) On the fly All times Eastern Friday, February 4 Rensselaer at Quinnipiac – 7:00 While RPI will surely be the popular pick – especially in light of yesterday’s column – QU isn’t exactly folding up shop: The Bobcats are 5-1-3 in their last nine and are looking to solidify … Read more
I suppose I should wave the white flag at this point. I only got one game wrong last week, but Jim went 7-0-2. The one game I got wrong was in the Maine-BU series, which we both picked as a split. One game finished as a tie, Jim’s version of the split left him undefeated … Read more
Last week: 6-3-3 On the season: 76-44-16 (.618) This weekend marks the home stretch as teams play their remaining 8-10 games against schools in their regional scheduling pod. Friday, January 28 and Saturday, January 29: Canisius at Air Force – These teams are 5-5-3 all-time against each other, but I think that Air Force comes … Read more
Dave and I only picked one game differently last week (UMass vs. Vermont on Saturday) and I got it right. Let the lead expand. Dave last week: 5-3-1 Jim last week: 6-2-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 63-27-19 (.655) Jim’s record-to-date: 75-21-17 (.739) Here are this week’s picks: Friday, January 28 Vermont at Merrimack Jim’s pick: Vermont has played well … Read more
What a week. Rick Comley announces his retirement at the end of the season, Jim Roque is fined on top of his one-game suspension from last weekend. And I am barely above .500. Last week: 5-3-2 (.600) Season to date: 83-48-23 (.614) Here are my picks for games this week. I did not pick for … Read more