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 a sweep, I’ll also pick a game three result as I expect to be incorrect multiple times this week.
Jim last week: 3-0-0
Jim to-date: 150-66-28 (.672)
Dave to-date: 123-65-24 (.637)
#8 Notre Dame at #1 Boston College
Jim’s pick: I know that Notre Dame is red hot entering this series. I know the Irish also beat BC on the last day of the season. But I just feel this BC team is built for the playoffs. It won’t be easy, but I feel this will be a BC sweep.
G1: BC 3, ND 1; G2: BC 2, ND 1; G3: BC 3, ND 2
#7 Vermont at #2 Massachusetts-Lowell
Jim’s pick: This series feels identical to ND-BC. Vermont beat the River Hawks to end the regular season and I feel this is a very good Catamounts team. But Lowell has the tournament experience and that is a difference maker to me.
G1: UML 2, UVM 1; G2: UML 3, UVM 2; G3: UML 3, UVM 1
#6 Maine at #3 Providence
Jim’s pick: This is a series I see going the distance. The key for Providence is whether or not they can score goals. They did in Orono in the last week of the season, but hard to tell if that scoring magic continues. Regardless, I see the Friars advancing.
G1: Maine 3, PC 2; G2: PC 4, Maine 2; G3: PC 3, Maine 1
#5 Northeastern at #4 New Hampshire
Jim’s pick: Another series I see going three. But yet again, I see the home team advancing. I think Northeastern is probably the better team on paper, but UNH has experience in the postseason and that makes a difference.
G1: UNH 4, NU 2; G2: NU 3, UNH 2; G3: UNH 4, NU 3 (OT)
