Last week:
Dan: 5-4-3
Chris: 7-2-3
On the season:
Dan: 91-58-16 (.600)
Chris: 104-45-16 (.679)
This Week’s Picks:
Friday, January 29 and Saturday, January 30
Sacred Heart at Bentley
Dan:This year’s Sacred Heart seniors are 6-5-2 against Bentley overall, but a 5-2 record over the past two seasons highlights the way they’ve always seemed to play well against the Falcons. After scoring an offensive breakout with seven goals against Connecticut on Tuesday, I don’t foresee them losing two games this weekend. That said, though, Bentley’s offense woke up in a big way, scoring 11 goals last weekend against AIC. I’ll take a split.Bentley wins on Friday, Sacred Heart wins on Saturday.
Chris: Most of the the action is out West this weekend, but the lone matchup in New England is a great one. I’m not leaning either way on this one – Sacred Heart struggled at home with RIT last weekend but hung seven goals on UConn on Tuesday. As Dan said, Bentley’s offense woke up in a big way last weekend as well. So I too am going with a split, and using SHU’s record on Fridays (1-7-3) vs. Saturdays (5-5), I’m going with a Bentley win on Friday and an SHU victory on Saturday.
Air Force at Canisius
Dan: Canisius has been excellent at taking points; they haven’t been swept once in conference play over a full weekend at all this year. After splitting with the Falcons out west, I don’t see that changing. But since we can’t pick ties, I’m going with Canisius; Canisius sweeps.
Chris: Both teams are playing well right now, with Canisius unbeaten in its last four games and Air Force unbeaten in its last six. I’m going with another split with Air Force winning on Friday and Canisius on Saturday.
American International at Mercyhurst
Dan:After losing three of four points to Robert Morris last weekend and only splitting with Sacred Heart the weekend before, Mercyhurst finds itself in need of points this weekend. A big weekend could have them back in the race for a first round bye and home ice.Mercyhurst sweeps.
Chris: It’s an easy choice to pick the Lakers to sweep, but AIC again showed on Tuesday that a hot goalie can be the equalizer as rookie Jacob Caffrey made 45 saves in a 1-0 loss at Princeton. But I think Mercyhurst will find a way to get all four points at home. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Army West Point at Niagara
Dan: I still think Niagara is a better team than their record would indicate, but they’re really fighting it lately. They haven’t won since December 11th at RIT, going 0-8-1 with only their tie against Canisius since then. These next two weekends might be their best opportunities to get some momentum before playing Mercyhurst, RIT, and Air Force. Niagara wins on Friday. Army West Point wins on Saturday.
Chris: I too think Niagara’s going to win one of these games, but I don’t know which. Since the Purple Eagles have yet to win on a Saturday, I’m going with Niagara on Friday and Army West Point on Saturday.
Holy Cross at Rochester Institute of Technology
Dan:We’re all of a sudden looking at a logjam towards the top of the standings. With RMU off this week, a big weekend by either team can either tie or pass the Colonials and create a real battle for first place. The edge right now is with the Crusaders, who have a slightly better goals against average, so I’m taking the Crusaders. Don’t be shocked with a split, though. Holy Cross sweeps.
Chris: The Tigers’ struggles in league play at home (3-5) vs. the road (9-0-1) is somewhat baffling. RIT coach Wayne Wilson has said the opposition gets a jump from the atmosphere at the Polisseni, and that may be the case. Fridays have been especially tough on the Tigers at home, so I’m taking Holy Cross on Friday and RIT on Saturday.
