Last week: 6-4-2
Overall: 38-35-15
We’re at the unofficial halfway point of the college hockey season, with most teams winding down the pre-holiday break portion of their schedules this weekend. All games are at 7 p.m. unless noted.
Friday, Dec. 7
Colgate at Massachusetts
I realize all-time records mean little, especially considering there’s a lot of newcomers to this year’s Raiders team. Still, Colgate owns a 12-1-1 all-time series lead against Massachusetts, and is unbeaten in the last 13 matchups. Colgate 4-2
Princeton at Quinnipiac
There’s no other way to put it: the Bobcats are smoking hot right now. Quinnipiac is unbeaten over its last eight games and is 6-0 in ECAC play. Princeton has done some damage (win against Cornell, tie at Union), but I think Quinnipiac is simply too good right now. For those in the New England area, the game will be televised on NESN. Quinnipiac 5-2
Rensselaer at Yale
The last time RPI was at Ingalls, the Engineers were in the midst of last season’s mini-second half turnaround. This year’s first half has been just as disastrous as last season’s, and I’m not sure RPI has enough to derail a Yale team that has won four straight. Yale 5-1
Union at Brown
Beware the Ides of Meehan? Brown was the only team to sweep Union in league play last year. The Bears scored three-unanswered goals the last time these teams met in Providence. The Dutchmen are coming off a one-point weekend at home, but should have enough to get past a Brown team that’s fairly banged up right now. Union 4-1
Harvard at Merrimack, 7:30 p.m.
There’s some family ties in this one for Crimson freshman Jimmy Vesey, whose father Jim is Merrimack’s all-time leading scorer. Connections aside, Harvard hasn’t played a game since Nov. 17. They should shake the rust off against a Merrimack team that’s posted one win in the last month. Harvard 3-2
Saturday, Dec. 8
Quinnipiac at Princeton, 4 p.m.
These travel partners conclude the weekend at Hobey Baker Rink. I’m tempted to call a Tiger upset, but the Bobcats have done nothing over the last month to merit picking against them. Quinnipiac 3-2
Rensselaer at Brown, 4 p.m.
The Engineers and the Bears enter the weekend as the only two teams without a league win. Something’s got to give. I’ll take the home team here. Brown 4-1
Colgate at Massachusetts
I think the Minuteman finally break through against Colgate, ending the series with a win. Massachusetts 4-2
Union at Yale
Ask me about this game two weeks ago and I likely would have picked the Dutchmen. But Yale’s recent play, coupled with Union’s struggles that past two weekends, have me reconsidering that. Yale 3-2
St. Lawrence vs. Clarkson, 7:30 p.m. (Lake Placid, N.Y.)
These rivals and travel partners meet in Lake Placid as part of the Festivus Faceoff. St. Lawrence enters Saturday’s game with 999 wins in program history, and are looking to become the 16th team among 59 Division 1 programs to reach the 1,000 win mark. The Golden Knights denied that bid Wednesday, but I think the Saints get it here. St. Lawrence 4-2
Monday, Dec. 10
Massachusetts-Lowell at Harvard
The Riverhawks are the second of three straight Hockey East teams Harvard plays to close out 2012. Harvard has yet to go any sort of a roll, but has been better overall than the Riverhawks, who end 2012 on a disappointing note after making the NCAA tournament last season. Harvard 5-3
Tuesday, Dec. 11
Massachusetts at Yale
The Bulldogs are on a roll and are always tough at home. Not sure if UMass has enough to derail them here, although the Minuteman did squeeze in a 3-1 win at Amherst last season. Yale 4-1
