Dave and I had an equally mediocre week, which means I maintain a two-game lead in the overall standings.
Jim last week: 5-4-2
Dave last week: 5-4-2
Jim to date: 101-63-20
Dave to date: 99-56-20
Friday, January 26
Vermont at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: Given that UVM played well last weekend, I’m hoping they can hit a stride. Thus I feel like this is a split, just hope I don’t screw up the reverse split. Going with Merrimack on Friday.
MC 4, UVM 3
Dave’s pick: My skepticism regarding Vermont is going to linger longer than Jim’s.
MC 4, UVM 2
Providence at Northeastern
Jim’s pick: This is the marquee series of the weekend with arguably the top two Hockey East teams facing off. Home ice will play a major factor.
NU 4, PC 2
Dave’s pick: I, too, am going with Northeastern at home in the opener.
NU 4, PC 2
Maine at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: This is a series I think will probably split, but I also really like the energy this UMass team has shown, particularly at home.
UMass 3, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: This is another brutally difficult weekend series to pick. Either team could sweep. I’m going with the road warrior (6-3-1) Black Bears.
Maine 3, UMass 2 (OT)
Boston College at UMass Lowell
Jim’s pick: UML has had a very good record against Boston College in recent years. But this isn’t the same UML team. Still, I think they can win this one at home.
UML 3, BC 2
Dave’s pick: I’ve lost a lot of faith in Lowell after some awful recent splits (0-4 to Arizona State and 3-6 to Vermont).
BC 2, UML 1
Connecticut at New Hampshire
Jim’s pick: Earning two ties at Maine have me hopefully for New Hampshire. UConn hasn’t been a slouch coming off a win vs. Providence. Tough one for me to pick here.
UNH 4, UConn 2
Dave’s pick: Home ice is guiding another tough pick.
UNH 3, UConn 2
Boston University at Arizona State
Jim’s pick: The Sun Devils have some nice recent results but I can’t pick against BU in this series.
BU 4, ASU 1
Dave’s pick: I’ve bemoaned BU’s inconsistency, but the Terriers are coming off a sweep.
BU 4, ASU 2
Saturday, January 27
New Hampshire at Connecticut
Jim’s pick: I think back on home ice, UConn can earn the split.
UConn 2, UNH 1
Dave’s pick: I, too, am going with a split based on home ice.
UConn 3, UNH 2
UMass Lowell at Boston College
Jim’s pick: Every weekend I keep saying this is the weekend UMass Lowell gets going. And every weekend on Saturday they seem to disappoint.
BC 5, UML 3
Dave’s pick: As noted above, I’ve lost faith in the River Hawks. Ugly splits to lesser competition spells to me getting swept by BC.
BC 4, UML 2
Vermont at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: A win on night two makes that trip back to Burlington a little more tolerable.
UVM 4, MC 2
Dave’s pick: I don’t see it. It’s going to take more than one win over a wildly inconsistent Lowell team to get me to believe in Vermont.
MC 4, UVM 2
Northeastern at Providence
Jim’s pick: Back at home, I think the Friars prevail.
PC 3, NU 1
Dave’s pick: If the Huskies were just a bit better on the road (where they’re 4-3-3) or Providence a bit more vulnerable at home (where it’s 8-3-0), I’d easily go for a Northeastern sweep. But those numbers scream for a home-ice flavored split. Do I ignore that screaming? With great trepidation, I do.
NU 4, PC 3 (OT)
Maine at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: My upset pick of the weekend here, I’m going with the UMass sweep at home.
UMass 4, Maine 3
Dave’s pick: This has split written all over it, but I’m going with another upset pick on the road.
Maine 3, UMass 2
Boston University at Arizona State
Jim’s pick: Like I said, I think ASU could pull the upset here, but can’t pick it.
BU 3, ASU 2
Dave’s pick: After going 22 games without back-to-back wins, the Terriers will get their fourth in a row.
BU 4, ASU 1
