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
Our scheduled guests on the March 11 episode of USCHO Live! are Ferris State coach Bob Daniels, whose Bulldogs won the regular season title in their first season in the WCHA, and longtime Massachusetts-Lowell broadcaster Bob Ellis.
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
Seeing as I don’t care about Bruno Mars, I’ll take this opportunity at halftime of the Super Bowl to tell you about three things I do care about that I learned this past weekend: 1. Eagles, Gaudreau streaking towards a title I was a tad bit concerned on Friday night that two of the nation’s longest … Read more
The good news is that I played Comeback Kid last week, going 6-0 on Saturday after a disastrous 0-5 Friday. The bad news is that I lost a game to Jim in the process. Dave last week: 6-5-0 Jim last week: 7-4-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 114-63-22 Jim’s record-to-date: 118-59-22 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Jan. 31 Boston College at … Read more
It’s one of the great traditions of college hockey: The calendar turns to February, and we turn our attention to the Beanpot.
These are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Four points can’t get any harder than this. Coaches have long bemoaned the difficulty of getting four points against any Hockey East opponent, regardless of position in the standings. Well, this weekend became their quintessential example. All five league series ended in splits. … Read more
I’ve closed to within three after being down by five a few weeks ago. Here’s hoping I pick up two more this week. I’m making some risky picks, so if they don’t work out, I’ll just claim my anesthesiologist got to me early. Dave last week: 10-3-2 Jim last week: 9-4-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 108-58-22 Jim’s record-to-date: 111-55-22 Here are … Read more
These are the three things I think I learned this weekend. 1. The regular season title is Boston College’s to lose. The Eagles created more separation at the top of the Hockey East standings, defeating Boston University and Maine, while no other league team picked up four points in the standings. With a 10-1-1 Hockey … Read more
Here I was thinking I had an awful week of picks last week. Until I realized that Dave was equally as bad. Jim last week: 6-4-1 Dave last week: 6-4-1 Jim to-date: 102-51-20 Dave to-date: 98-55-20 Friday, January 16 Boston University at Boston College Jim’s pick: Though they say throw out the records when these … Read more