These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. I should stop being surprised when Connecticut defeats a strong team. Earlier this year, UConn defeated Boston College and tied Boston University in the span of just four days. The Huskies also have toppled Quinnipiac and Vermont. But I really didn’t think they could … Read more
Though I thought I had a decent week, I continued to lose ground to Dave. Something needs to turn around fast (though with Dave picking second again, expect him to utilize the four-corners defense again!) Jim last week: 9-4-2 Jim to date: 101-50-13 Dave last week: 11-2-2 Dave to date: 105-46-13 Friday, January 9 Boston … Read more
Hockey East teams have been simply dominant since returning from the holiday break. That leads the three things I have learned in the past couple of weeks. 1. Nonleague opponents have been friends to Hockey East teams in second half Hockey East teams didn’t exactly enjoy the best first half out of conference. The league … Read more
Another week in which I was unable to gain ground on Dave, thus he’ll enter 2015 with a two-game lead. Jim last week: 7-4-0 Jim to date: 92-46-11 Dave last week: 7-4-0 Dave to date: 94-44-11 Friday, January 2 Connecticut at Massachusetts Jim’s pick: I really like the way UConn is playing right now and … Read more
In the handful of contests last week, I doubled my lead over Jim. (Somehow, that sounds a lot more impressive than saying my lead went from one to two games.) I could complain that I would have widened that lead even more if I’d picked the New Hampshire – Maine split the other way, but I’ll … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. So maybe Boston College’s seniors are better than I’ve claimed. I’ve commented about how limited BC’s senior forwards are, referring to them as role players and not the scoring leaders you need out of at least some of your upperclassmen. While I still think there’s … Read more
I had a pretty good week, but so did Jim. My razor-thin margin remains. Dave last week: 6-1-2 Jim last week: 6-1-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 83-38-11 Jim’s record-to-date: 82-39-11 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Dec. 12 Maine at New Hampshire Dave’s pick: Maine’s home/road splits are hard to ignore, and I also think the Wildcats are much better than … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. I wonder if some defensemen give too much space to Jack Eichel. Not always. Not even most of the time. But too often. Eichel seems to be a player that you have to play a “tight gap” defense against. You have to stay … Read more
For the second straight week, Dave and I had just one game picked differently. And for the second straight week, I won that game. Thus, I have trimmed Dave’s lead to the slimmest of margins as we near the halfway point. Jim last week: 10-7-0 Jim to-date: 76-38-9 Dave last week: 9-8-0 Dave to-date: 77-37-9 … Read more
If you were a Hockey East team ranked in the top 10 in the nation’s polls, this wasn’t a great week. That leads off the three things I learned this week: 1. It ain’t easy wearing a target on your back Everyone knows it’s lonely at the top, and for many of the Hockey East … Read more
Dave and I picked differently on just two games last week and one of those wasn’t played. So I made up the most I possibly could on the deficit. Jim last week: 11-3-1 Jim to-date: 66-31-9 Dave last week: 10-4-1 Dave to-date: 68-29-9 Friday, November 26 Minnesota at Boston College Jim’s pick: I would like … Read more
We’re about a third of the way through the league slate for most of the teams in Hockey East and it appears that there is a trio of teams to beat a top the Hockey East standings. That leads my three things I learned this weekend: 1. UML, BU and UVM: The alphabet soup trio … Read more
Last week was good, but not great. My lead stays at three games. Dave last week: 8-4-1 Jim last week: 8-4-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 58-25-8 Jim’s record-to-date: 55-28-8 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Nov. 21 Vermont at Connecticut Dave’s pick: Both teams have been very pleasant surprises, but the Catamounts should emerge victorious. UVM 2, UConn 1 Jim’s pick: … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Split is the word. “Every point is a tough point,” has been a cliché within Hockey East for years, but this week provided more than ample evidence. Seven league teams played in four series and they all ended in splits. Home ice didn’t … Read more
Okay, it’s time to stop the bleeding. Over the last three week’s Dave has begun a run of domination that needs to be stopped right now. I’m only three games back, but if the bleeding doesn’t get stopped soon it could be a disaster. Jim last week: 7-5-2 Jim to-date: 47-24-7 Dave last week: 9-3-2 … Read more
Vermont showed a lot of meddle this weekend earning a sweep over Maine. And that leads the three things I learned about Hockey East this weekend: 1. Friday rally turns into a weekend sweep for the Catamounts It appeared Maine was about to win just its second road game in the Red Gendron era on … Read more
Although I had a mediocre week, it still smells like roses because I pulled a game ahead of Jimmy. Time for the Four Corners offense. Dave last week: 9-5-2 Jim last week: 8-6-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 41-18-5 Jim’s record-to-date: 40-19-5 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Nov. 7 Merrimack at Providence Dave’s pick: I’m going with the 2-3-1 team over the … Read more
I think I learned these three things this week.` 1. Massachusetts-Lowell’s ugly loss to Michigan a week ago was only a mirage. When I watched the River Hawks lose 8-4 to Michigan, I thought it indicated they weren’t as good as their 2-0-1 record to that point had indicated. The early departures to the pros … Read more
Dave rallied last weekend to post an impressive 13-3-1 mark and make up the two-game deficit. Three weeks in, all tied. Jim last week: 11-5-1 Jim to-date: 32-13-3 Dave last week: 13-3-1 Dave to-date: 32-13-3 Friday, October 31 Massachusetts at Maine Jim’s pick: Though I like the way UMass is playing of late, Maine showed last … Read more
It was a good week to a be a “family” pet in Hockey East as two Cats (Vermont Catamounts and New Hampshire Wildcats) and one dog (Boston University Terriers) earned a total of four wins in two nights. That headlines the three things I learned in Hockey East this week: 1) Vermont, UNH and BU … Read more