These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Connecticut sweeps Massachusetts-Lowell! UConn got off to a surprisingly strong start in Hockey East last year, but came into the weekend struggling with a 1-7-0 league record. And since the Huskies were facing a Lowell squad that was undefeated in Hockey East play, … Read more
Dave and I had equally as impressive weeks last week, thus my lead stands at five games. (Did I hit “bold” there?) Jim last week: 12-2-1 Jim to-date: 79-26-19 Dave last week: 12-2-1 Dave to-date: 74-31-19 Friday, December 4 Vermont at Boston University Jim’s pick: I feel like Vermont is better than it is playing right … Read more
Shootouts are not the norm in college hockey, particularly for schools out east. But this weekend, they twice translated to trophies for Hockey East teams. 1. UMass-Lowell plays comeback kids at inaugural Friendship Four Wild and wooly is the only way to explain UMass-Lowell’s championship at the inaugural Friendship Four tournament in Belfast, Northern Ireland. … Read more
Last week, Jim and I disagreed on only two picks. One of those games ended in a tie. In the other, he correctly picked the order of the Boston University – Michigan split, getting them both right. Could it be that Jimmy is smarter than I am? As Vizzini said in The Princess Bride, “Inconceivable!” … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Providence, Boston College, and Massachusetts-Lowell are separating themselves from the rest of the league. These three teams continued their undefeated play within Hockey East. Providence swept Northeastern, Lowell took three of four points from Notre Dame and BC defeated New Hampshire. While several … Read more
Let the good times continue to roll! For the third straight week, I’ve picked up games on Dave and have increased my lead to four. That, along with the fact that I was an unbeaten 7-0-4 last week, should have the old man ready to pull out all the punches. How else can he carry … Read more
It was a series you circled when the schedules were announced: Boston University and Providence, a rematch of last year’s national title game. And though fans were probably entertained at each venue, neither night of the home-and-home series produced a winner. That leads the three things I learned this weekend. 1. When it comes to … Read more
Jim and I differed on only two games last week, and in both cases he chose the right team, tripling his lead. Since this is Friday the 13th, perhaps all that bad luck will go his way and I’ll get back to even. Dave last week: 9-6-0 Jim last week: 11-4-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 48-25-10 Jim’s record-to-date: 51-22-10 Here … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned from this all-or-nothing weekend. 1. The All: Teams swept all four league series Hockey East is typically so tough top to bottom that it’s extremely difficult to take four points from a league foe. That, however, is exactly what happened this weekend in all four league series. … Read more
Both Dave and I had equally impressive weeks last week which means I hold my single-game lead in the standings. Jim last week: 13-2-1 Jim to-date: 40-18-10 Dave last week: 13-2-1 Dave to-date: 39-19-10 Friday, November 6 Maine at Boston College Jim’s pick: Boston College seems to be clicking on all cylinders. Maine definitely is … Read more
Don’t look now but Providence’s Jake Walman is tied for the nation’s lead in goals per game. That tops my list of three things in Hockey East that I learned this week: 1. Walman a beast on the blue line for the Friars On a weekend where the Providence Friars buried 11 goals, it was defenseman … Read more
There weren’t a lot of games where Dave and I picked differently last week, but he took advantage when he could. Jim last week: 10-3-5 Dave last week: 11-2-5 Jim to-date: 27-16-9 Dave to-date: 26-17-9 Friday, October 30 Boston University at Merrimack Jim’s pick: BU is coming off a road loss to Connecticut which should … Read more
We are just three weeks into the hockey season and this year’s version of the Massachusetts Minutemen have twice done something most teams can’t do very often: comeback. That headlines the three things we learned this week in Hockey East. 1. Minutemen should call themselves the Cardiac Kids Two weekends ago, UMass fell behind 3-0 … Read more
After a brutal opening week, I picked up two games last Friday, but then gave one back the next night. Like some of the teams in this league, I’ve dug myself a hole. Dave last week: 11-7-1 Jim last week: 10-8-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 15-15-4 Jim’s record-to-date: 17-13-4 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Oct. 23 Massachusetts-Lowell at Merrimack Dave’s … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Northeastern may be headed to another bad start. The Huskies defeated Colgate to open the season, but it was an ominous reminder of last year when they got swept in this weekend’s home-and-home series with Bentley. Gone are the days when wins over … Read more
Week one of the season was relatively kind to me and hardly so for Dave. Maybe this is punishment for him playing the four corners offense (well, defense in this case) during last year’s Hockey East tournament weekend. Last week’s results Jim: 7-5-3 Dave: 4-8-3 This week’s picks Friday, October 16 Wisconsin at Boston College … Read more
A 2-1 loss to Rensselaer on Sunday by Boston College gave college hockey its first major upset of the season, but it also brings forth the question: Did BC deserve to be the preseason No. 1? That leads the three things in Hockey East that I learned this week: 1. Just how good will this … Read more
I’m hoping this week is the closest Jim gets to me in our picks competition this year. I did, after all, win it last year. Heh, heh, heh. Yes, that sound you hear in the background is Queen performing, “We Are the Champions.” Of course, Jim did make a furious comeback last year, forcing me … Read more
If you’re in New England, the sub-40 degree temperatures this morning in many cities and towns should signify one thing: it’s hockey season. Personally, I say it’s about time. As short as the offseason in college hockey is (the shortest of any college sport), it doesn’t matter. It’s nice to see ice down in every … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned in this final pre-NCAA tournament week. 1. Boston University finally put together a strong first period at the TD Garden. The Terriers’ first three games at the Garden this year — the Beanpot and Hockey East semifinals — hardly showcased a team on the way to … Read more