Last week:
Dan: 10-1-0
Chris: 9-2-0
On the season:
Dan: 98-60-24 (.604)
Chris: 104-54-24 (.637)
This Week’s Picks:
Thursday, February 2 and Friday, February 3
Holy Cross vs. American International
Dan: Back in ancient times, this would be a series where I would say the following: “AIC has a very real chance to steal a game and throw a wrench into the playoff race.” Instead, my tag line is this: “AIC has a very real chance to position themselves for a run at home ice in the playoffs.” I think they’ll stay in the hunt with a split, so I’m going with the home team in each game. AIC wins on Thursday, Holy Cross on Friday.
Chris: This is a home-and-home series with the Yellow Jackets hosting Thursday and the action shifting to Worcester on Friday. Just three points separate the two teams, with AIC taking three of four points from the Crusaders earlier this season. But I think Holy Cross will return the favor this weekend. I’m going with a Crusaders sweep.
Friday, February 3 and Saturday, February 4
Air Force at Bentley
Dan: Air Force comes east to take on Bentley on a “super” weekend in Massachusetts. Oh come on, you didn’t think you’d get through this without a Tom Brady reference did you? I really like the way Bentley is currently playing, and they’re positioning themselves for a late-season run at a first round bye – provided they have another solid weekend. A split against the banged-up western Falcons would be a help. This is a sneaky good goaltending matchup between Shane Starrett and the combination of Aidan Pelino and Jayson Argue. Bentley wins on Friday. Air Force wins on Saturday.
Chris: The second installment of the Battle of the Falcons resumes after the teams traded lopsided wins in Colorado Springs earlier this season. Air Force coach Frank Serratore has said that historically his teams have not matched up well with Bentley, but despite the AFA-Falcons’ injuries and the home ice advantage for the BU-Falcons, I’m picking an Air Force sweep.
Army West Point at Canisius
Dan: Ever watch a good, old-fashioned pitcher’s duel in baseball? Those are the games that end 1-0 after it’s 0-0 into the ninth inning. Get ready to enjoy those, and I wouldn’t put it past a 0-0 tie in one of these games. Now that I said that, prepare for a 6-5 final somewhere along the line. Canisius sweeps.
Chris: If you like great goaltending, make sure you get to HARBORCENTER this weekend. Canisius’ Charles Williams and AWP’s Parker Gahagen are two of college hockey’s best, and along with Robert Morris forward Brady Ferguson, are arguably the top three favorites in the league for a Hobey Baker nomination (the real one, not the one used for fan voting). Anyway, the picks. It’s a tough choice, but I’m going with a gut feeling that we’ll see a Canisius sweep.
Sacred Heart at Mercyhurst
Dan: Sacred Heart is starting to turn the corner, but so is Mercyhurst. Home ice advantage wins out here for my pick. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Chris: The Lakers are coming off their first series sweep of the season and I think they’ll keep it rolling against a good SHU team that’s playing some of its best hockey right now. I think they’ll be close games, but I’m going with a Mercyhurst sweep on home ice.
Rochester Institute of Technology at Robert Morris
Dan: I’m falling back on the adage that you’re never as bad as when you’re playing badly. Unfortunately for RIT, that might just be a consolation prize. They’re struggling as of late with a number of factors, including the injury bug, and that’s trouble heading on the road to take on an RMU team that’s looking for a bounceback after a split last weekend and a 2-2 record in their last four. RMU sweeps.
Chris: RIT is looking to avoid its sixth straight defeat, which would set the school mark for consecutive losses. The Tigers are missing several key players to injury, and I think their losing streak will continue against an RMU team that’s had only two losses since Christmas. Robert Morris sweeps.
