Last week:
Dan: 8-0
Chris: 7-2
On the season:
Dan: 104-85-25 (.544)
Chris: 113-77-25 (.584)
This Week’s Picks
Friday, March 9 – Sunday, March 11
Atlantic Hockey First Round
Best Of Three Series
No. 11 Sacred Heart at No. 1 Mercyhurst
Chris: With just 10 points separating first and last place this season, this is no cakewalk for the Lakers. I think it will come down to the effect of the bye on Mercyhurst, which has been on a roll since January. I think the boys in green will keep their momentum. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Dan: Sacred Heart gave Mercyhurst fits when they met this year, pushing one game to overtime and winning the second. So I wouldn’t put it past the Pioneers to take a game in this series. But the Lakers have been ludicrously hot, and I think the bye hooked the up to the rejuvenation machine. Mercyhurst sweeps.
No. 8 American International at No. 2 Canisius
Chris: The Yellow Jackets made history last weekend, hosting a playoff series for the first time and then going ahead and winning it. Can they make history again by moving on to Rochester? It wouldn’t surprise me, but I’m sticking with the higher seed and home team. Canisius in three.
Dan: This might be the toughest series to pick out of the three. Canisius finished second because it did a good job of picking off points every weekend, but AIC is the league’s worst kept secret right now. The Yellow Jackets will give the Griffs all they can handle, without a doubt, but my head is going to overrule my heart. I really like this Canisius team because of their ability to win and push forward. Canisius in three.
No. 7 Robert Morris at No. 3 Holy Cross
Chris: This is a rematch of last season’s quarterfinals, when the Colonials defeated the Crusaders in Pittsburgh. The locale is different, but I think the result will be the same. Robert Morris in three.
Dan: Holy Cross finished third, but I feel like they’ve been flying under the radar. I’m looking forward to seeing Paul Berrafato in this series; he’s played every single minute of the season in net for the Crusaders, a string of over 2,000 minutes (2060:29) to be exact. Holy Cross in three.
No. 5 Air Force at No. 4 Army West Point
Chris: The Falcons have defeated the Black Knights in three previous postseason meetings, although none took place at West Point. Still, I’m going with history, and Air Force’s knack of finding another gear in the postseason. Air Force in three.
Dan: Keep an eye on special teams this series. Army likes to play on the edge with a physical style and average over 12 PIM per game, but Air Force’s power play is 10th out of the 11 AHC teams. Army West Point in three.
