Jim beat me by a game in week one and then by another in week two. Apparently by the start of the playoffs, he’ll be ahead of me by 21 games. Dave last week: 12-4-1 Jim last week: 13-3-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 19-10-2 Jim’s record-to-date: 21-8-2 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Oct. 24 Colorado College at Boston College Dave’s … Read more
I think I learned these three things this week. 1. Vermont is better than I thought, and Notre Dame completed an important sweep. These two teams both swept this weekend, but I thought Vermont’s was the more significant. I was surprised and impressed when the Catamounts opened the season by taking it to Northeastern in … Read more
Just like Hockey East teams out-of-conference, neither Dave nor I posted a very good record in week one. Still, I have a one-game lead on the old man. Jim last week: 8-5-1 Jim to-date: 8-5-1 Dave last week: 7-6-1 Dave to-date: 7-6-1 Friday, October 17 Northeastern at Colgate Jim’s pick: The Huskies haven’t looked too … Read more
Are Massachusetts-Lowell and Vermont better than their positions in the coaches’ poll suggested? Conversely, are some of the top teams in the poll headed for tough times this year? And as far as non-league play goes, Hockey East may like to forget this weekend. This leads my three things I learned from the opening weekend … Read more
Another year beckons and hope springs eternal. Let’s get right to the games. Dave’s record-to-date: 0-0-0 Jim’s record-to-date: 0-0-0 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Oct. 10 Boston University at Massachusetts Dave’s pick: In one game, the Terriers equal their total number of road wins from all of last year. BU 4, UMass 1 Jim’s pick: A lot … Read more
Connor Hellebuyck was a brick wall. That’s all you need to know about this past weekend in Hockey East. 1. Double shutout leads River Hawks to back-to-back title You can’t win if you can’t score. That was the simple lesson learned by both Notre Dame and New Hampshire at the Hockey East Championship this weekend. … Read more
Since the beginning of the New Year, I’ve been talking about a seemingly unlikely scenario that six Hockey East teams could reach the NCAA tournament. Well, in the sense of being greedy, it’s not out of the questions that seven – yes, seven - Hockey East teams could punch their NCAA tickets. For a couple of teams – namely Northeastern and, … Read more
Surprisingly, I had a half-decent record in the crazy quarterfinal round of games, thanks in large part to picking the entire New Hampshire-Northeastern series correctly. And with a .670 winning percentage entering the final weekend of games, I can now officially claim domination over Dave. I had him beat when he went on injured reserve … Read more
After Notre Dame beat Boston College on the final day of the regular season, there was a reason to believe that the Irish could beat the Eagles in a best-of-three series. Still, it was difficult to pick Notre Dame. That leads the three things I learned this week: 1) Notre Dame proves postseason proficiency I … Read more
Time to pick the quarterfinals. I may have been perfect in the opening round, but it’s difficult to pick a best-of-three. So often, if a team wins game one, they sweep. But this year’s Hockey East field is about a tightly stacked as possible. Thus, sweeps will be difficult. That said, even if I pick … Read more
The biggest surprise in the opening weekend of the Hockey East playoffs was that there were not any surprises at all. That leads the list of things I learned this weekend in Hockey East: 1. Favorite survive single elimination Plenty was made about the first-round single elimination series in Hockey East, mostly that some very … Read more
Just when I began getting cocky, karma put me back in my place last week. Jim last week: 4-4-1 Jim to-date: 147-66-28 (.668) Dave to-date: 123-65-24 (.637) Friday, March 7 #10 Massachusetts at #7 Vermont Jim’s pick: I think that Vermont has enough of the depth at each position to win this game and advance. … Read more
Notre Dame upsets No. 1 Boston College while Providence wins two at Maine. These two teams are playing their best hockey heading into the playoffs. That leads the three things I learned this week: 1. Irish upset Eagles to take six-game unbeaten streak into playoffs Notre Dame pulled off an impressive upset of the top-seeded … Read more
Somehow Dave’s non-participation in picks has brought out the best in me. A near-perfect week last weekend. Jim last week: 8-0-2 Jim to date: 143-62-27 (.674) Date to date: 123-65-24 (.637) Friday, February 28 Northeastern at Boston University Jim’s pick: The Huskies come into Parker Rink and spoil Jack Parker Night. NU 4, BU 2 … Read more
The fact that Boston College clinched the regular season title a night after Valentine’s Day hardly means that there won’t be excitement in Hockey East in the final weekend of the regular season. That is one of three things I learned this weekend in Hockey East: 1. League races from two through eight incredibly tight … Read more
With Dave on injured reserve, I went ahead and had my best week of the year to take a big lead in percentage points. Jim last week: 8-1-1 Jim to date: 135-62-25 (.664) Date to date: 123-65-24 (.637) Friday, Feb. 21 Massachusetts-Lowell at Boston College Jim’s pick: This is by far the most difficult series … Read more
Last Monday night, Boston College won its fifth straight Beanpot. But that wasn’t the only trophy the Eagles received last week. That leads off the three things I learned this week: 1. Boston College clinches regular-season title So it seems a little bit early in the calendar, but the Hockey East regular season trophy is already decided. … Read more
So last week Dave, in his words, pulled the goalie. While his effort gained him some ground on me, it was only one game. Thus, with no more picking left for his this season (he had successful season-ending open-heart surgery on Tuesday, for those who haven’t been following along), I take the title for game … Read more
Notre Dame was just about a minute away from another lost weekend in Hockey East play. But then Bryan Rust saved the day, which leads the three things I learned this weekend. 1. Don’t write Notre Dame’s obituary yet This hasn’t exactly been a welcome with open arms to Hockey East thus far for the … Read more
Last week, I gained another game on the old man. And seeing as this is his last week picking before season ending surgery, I’m curious to see whether or not Dave will go completely the opposite of me in hopes I tank so he can improve his winning percentage. (Dave’s special note: I’m loathe to … Read more