Another atrocious week picking for me means I have pretty much handed Dave the title. Jim last week: 5-6-1 Jim to date: 136-76-21 Dave last week: 7-4-1 Dave to date: 142-70-21 Friday, February 20 UMass Lowell at Boston College Jim’s pick: This one will seem like I am going out on a limb right here, … Read more
The Hockey East regular season has been nothing short of remarkable. The only constant has been Boston University. Everything else? Mud.
Boston University earned two points against New Hampshire over the weekend, leaving the Terriers on the verge of clinching the regular-season title in Hockey East. That leads the three things I learned this weekend in Hockey East: 1) Terriers ready to clinch Boston University is very close to clinching at least a share of the … Read more
Jim and I disagreed on three picks last week, but two of them were in the postponed Beanpot, so it all came down to just one. Guess who won? Heh, heh, heh. Dave last week: 7-2-1 Jim last week: 6-3-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 135-66-20 Jim’s record-to-date: 131-70-20 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Feb. 13 New Hampshire at Boston University Dave’s … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. The Providence offense is coming on at just the right time. For much of the season, the Providence scoring has been good, but not great. The Friars have displayed championship quality defense, but nothing amazing in the offensive zone. That seems to be … Read more
Here I was feeling all good about myself after making up two games on Dave on Friday night. By the end of the weekend, though, Dave had earned those two wins back. Jim last week: 5-5-2 Jim to date: 125-67-20 Dave last week: 5-5-2 Dave to date: 128-64-20 Friday, February 6 Boston College at Merrimack … Read more
With a few teams idle, the Beanpot schools playing, at most, a single game and a couple of splits, the only team to gain any ground this weekend in Hockey East was Connecticut. That leads the three things I learned this weekend: 1. UConn only team to take three points It was a heckuva weekend … Read more
I was pretty mediocre last week, but that’s just fine and dandy because Jim was… um, awful. Heh, heh, heh. Dave last week: 6-4-1 Jim last week: 4-6-1 Dave’s record-to-date: 123-62-18 Jim’s record-to-date: 120-65-18 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Jan. 30 Massachusetts-Lowell at Merrimack Dave’s pick: Here’s a match-up of two suddenly struggling teams. The River Hawks have … Read more
With the results so one-sided this week, I’m listing the three things I think I learned a little differently. 1. There were four big winners this week. Boston University, Maine, Northeastern and Providence all swept this weekend. Coaches talk about how tough two points are in this league, and rightly so. Four points? Brutally tough … Read more
Even though I had a pretty crappy week picking games, somehow I gained two games on Dave who had an incredibly crappy week. One game behind with as we head down the home stretch of the season. Jim last week: 7-5-1 Jim to date: 116-59-17 Dave last week: 5-7-1 Dave to date: 117-58-17 Friday, January … Read more
The top of the Hockey East standings got a whole lot tighter because of some results on Sunday. That leads the three things I learned this week: 1. A BU comeback and solid weekend for the Irish make top of standings tight When Boston University trailing UMass Lowell, 3-1, on Sunday, one could take a … Read more
Jim and I disagreed on only two picks last weekend and going into the third period, it looked like I’d widen my lead by two. As visions of a six-game lead danced in my head, one of those wins became a tie and the other a loss. A pox on the Black Bears and Dartmouth! I should have … Read more
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