So it’s now down to just one weekend remaining in the regular season. Two games will decide the final playoff fate for teams in both conferences, and while the picture is still murky, here is what we know is clear in the playoff picture, as well as the many questions that still remain in both … Read more
Brockport sweeps to playoff contention A funny thing happened on the way to Brockport’s early elimination from playoff contention. Last week they tied Geneseo, and this weekend, they did the impossible. Impossible because it’s never been done before. “With last night’s win being the first one in approximately 30 years, I’m sure this is the … Read more
For the second weekend in a row, there were no sweeps in the ECAC West. The teams entering the weekend in the last two positions of the standings took three points from the higher seed team that they played. Despite being outshot, 39-21, on Friday, Neumann put a whipping on Utica, 5-0. The Pioneers went … Read more
An unmitigated disaster, that is the best way to describe my picks last week. I got every game wrong. I am sitting in the penalty box feeling shame as I type this blog. Anyone want to guess how many I will get wrong this week? If the last two weeks are any indication, the number … Read more
As the season begins to wind down, another regular season champion could be decided. It is the last week of the NCHA regular season, and there are still many scenarios when it comes to the final standings. St. Norbert could grab the NCHA regular season title with a three-point weekend, or grab a share of … Read more
Each player and each coach in the ECAC Northeast and MASCAC will acknowledge it at this time of the year: With the regular season turning from a matter of weeks into a matter of days, each point and each win is valuable. It’s that old adage about “controlling your own destiny.” Simply put — the … Read more
Game of the Week You have to go with the game that pits the two teams closest to each other in points. That would be Potsdam at Geneseo on Friday. The Bears are in fifth place, one point ahead of Geneseo. Oh, and Potsdam has a game in hand, so Geneseo has to consider Potsdam … Read more
The next to last weekend of the regular season has some intriguing matchups at both the upper and lower levels of the standings. One thing all the games have in common is their playoff implications. At this point of the season, rest assured that no one is taking any opponent lightly, and everyone is doing … Read more
By sweeping Bethel this weekend, No. 7 St. Thomas was the first team in the West Region to clinch its conference. St. Thomas wrapped up the MIAC regular season title and home ice advantage in the MIAC playoffs. No. 6 St. Norbert and No. 8 Wisconsin-River Falls grabbed their own home ice advantage, but no … Read more
Well if we learned anything from another terrific Super Bowl between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, it is that it may not be that the entire of body of work over a season that counts, but that the team that gets it right when it matters most. The Giants, deservedly, won the … Read more
The MASCAC shuffle continues, and by virtue of a pair of wins over the weekend, Plymouth State finds itself in first place in the conference, as three weeks remain in the regular season. The Panthers earned four points with a pair of home wins: a 4-2 win Thursday over Westfield State and a 4-3 win … Read more
Some settled, some unsettled in SUNYAC Here are the quick facts: — Oswego and Plattsburgh have clinched a bye. Who finishes first will most likely be settled when they meet on February 17. — Buffalo State, Fredonia, Potsdam, and Geneseo will be fighting it out for a home spot in the play-in round. Potsdam with … Read more
Neumann continued its slide last weekend as Hobart came into Aston, Pa., and took three of four points. The Knights climbed back into Friday’s contest twice, the second time when Cory Park scored his 10th goal of the season with less than four minutes remaining to tie the game 2-2. Neumann had a power play … Read more
Finlandia and Wisconsin-River Falls each scored overtime goals on the road that knocked my predictions under .500 for the week. Wis.-River Falls broke a 0-for-18 streak at St. Norbert with a 4-3 victory on Friday, and Finlandia came through with its own overtime goal at Marian for an identical 4-3 win on Saturday. Officially, I … Read more
February is here, and the leap year that is 2012 isn’t going to help team that can’t get it going in the next three weeks. Last week I finished 3-1-2 for the weekend, which takes my season record overall to 41-16-8 (.692). Still not quite at that 70 percent success rate, and time is running … Read more
From here on out, it will be imperative to keep an eye on both the ECAC Northeast and MASCAC standings. Entering this weekend’s slate of games, three points separate first place (Curry) from second (Johnson and Wales) in the ECAC Northeast, while two points separate first place (Salem State) from third (Plymouth State) in the … Read more
Game of the Week Had Brockport not let two points slip through its fingers last week against Cortland, this week’s contest against Geneseo would have been an even bigger deal. Nonetheless, I’m still selecting the Geneseo at Brockport game as the game of the week. It is still a huge game for both teams, coupled … Read more
Last week was a disaster for my picks. I called the Manhattanville split with Elmira, but the games were reversed. Oops, failed on those picks. At least I got Utica’s win over Hobart Saturday, but missed Friday’s contest to make the worst week of picks all season long. Let’s see if I can redeem myself … Read more
This past weekend saw the top two teams play each other and the bottom two teams face off, each in a pair of games. Manhattanville hit the road to Elmira to battle the Soaring Eagles for first place. Ronnie Smith scored first to give the Valiants a 1-0 lead in the opening period Friday, but … Read more
It was a good weekend to pull the goaltender at the end of the game. In at least four games, the extra attacker proved to be the difference, as the teams that were behind used the extra man to score a goal in the final minutes of the games. In the conference races, Milwaukee School … Read more