Most sports fans realize that the playoffs aren’t indisputably fair, because they don’t always deliver what they implicitly promise – the best team in the league. The NFL plays a one-game-elimination format, Major League Baseball holds a best-of-five first round then two best-of-sevens to declare a winner. The NBA and NHL offer perhaps the most … Read more
So much for the “coveted” home-ice advantage, as seeds Nos. 10, 11 and 12 each upset their seventh, sixth and fifth-seeded hosts. Just another week in our wacky little league. First-round round-up No. 8 Quinnipiac 2, No. 9 Brown 0 The Bobcats cut Bruno down with twin 4-0 decisions, as junior Dan Clarke stopped 22 … 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
It’s relatively easy to pick a player of the year, a goalie, a rookie, all that stuff, but I’m going to try throwing a few new categories in there as well, to give some credit to those who deserve it… but in very specific ways. Props for the Players Pad-pounder award: Alex Killorn, Harvard The … Read more
Usually, my first post of the week quickly recaps last weekend’s action… but if you’re even remotely interested in the league, you’ll know that Saturday’s games concluded the ECAC Hockey regular season, and that every team is again 0-0 and looking ahead to the playoffs. Dutch reign supreme Congratulations are in order to the Union … Read more
Here’s the quick, 12:25am rundown (EDIT: now 1:22am, upon completion) on the playoff potentialities facing ECAC Hockey following Friday’s results and entering Saturday’s final regular-season contests. Here are this second’s standings. EDIT: Upon further, well-rested review, the SLU/Harvard/Colgate situation has been amended. Tip of the cap to @WHRBSports for pointing out my error. 1. Union … 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
Players of the week Player of the week: Danny Biega, Harvard Harvard’s sophomore blueliner scored three goals and six points in three games this week, helping the Crimson take a desperately needed four points at Cornell and Brown. Biega began the weekend with the game-winning power-play goal in Ithaca, added Harvard’s lone goal at Colgate … Read more
On the fly Friday, February 18 Brown 3 at Princeton 7 Brown senior Harry Zolnierczyk tied the game at 1 apiece 6:38 into play, but it was all downhill from there for Bruno as the Tigers scored three straight (twice, actually) to pull away. Seniors Kevin Lohry and Tayler Fedun each scored twice for Princeton, … 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
This’ll be a quick-hitter, without the usual feature material in the middle due to a crunched-up week… the Beanpot and Clarkson-St. Lawrence kinda accordioned my standard pace and schedule. Players of the Week Player of the week: Alex Killorn, Harvard The Crimson’s most consistent (or perhaps only consistent) player this year scored three goals and … Read more
On the fly Friday, February 11 Brown 1 at Clarkson 4 The Golden Knights didn’t score on either of two power plays, but they did keep Bruno off the board on eight Bears advantages to grit out the victory. Frosh Allan McPherson and Will Frederick scored for ‘Tech, as did seniors Scott Freeman and Tom … 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
Players of the Week Player of the Week: Joe Devin, Cornell The Scituate, Mass. senior earns Player of the Week honors this time around for his three-goal, five-point contribution to Cornell’s four-point weekend. He led off with Friday’s power-play game-winner over Clarkson, but finished even stronger with two goals – including the equalizing extra-attacker strike … Read more
Friday, February 4 Clarkson 2 at Cornell 5 Cornell scored three power-play goals as well as one short-handed, sealing Clarkson’s fate. Sophomore John Esposito, junior Sean Collins, and seniors Tyler Roeszler and Mike and Joe Devin scored for the Big Red in front of junior goalie Mike Garman (23 saves). Freshman David Pratt and senior … 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
Players of the Week Player of the week:Chase Polacek, Rensselaer Chase makes it two weeks in a row, as the senior striker opened the weekend with a power-play game-winner against Brown (plus a first-assist on the second goal), and wrapped it up with another power-play goal and two assists in the big win against Yale … Read more
On the fly Friday, January 28 Brown 0 at Rensselaer 3 Despite out-shooting the Engineers 36-20, Brown took the goose-egged L as RPI won the special-teams game. Senior Chase Polacek and Bryan Brutlag potted power-play goals late in the first period to pace the ‘Tute, and classmate Tyler Helfrich added the empty-netter in support of … Read more
Prediction precision Season record: Me: 100-47-16 (.663) Guest guessers: 76-49-13 (.598) Head to head: Sullivan 7, Guests 4*, with 1 tie. Looks like I’m doing alright so far. This week All times Eastern Friday, January 28 Cornell at Dartmouth – 7:00 Much like Princeton, Cornell has somehow figured out how to win on the road … Read more
Players of the Week Player of the week: Chase Polacek, RPI No stranger to the spotlight, Polacek scored twice – including the game-winner – in Friday’s tight win over Harvard, and added another GWG (this one on the power play) and an assist in Saturday’s romp over Dartmouth. The senior is now second in the … Read more