Both Dave and I had equally impressive weeks last week which means I hold my single-game lead in the standings.
Jim last week: 13-2-1
Jim to-date: 40-18-10
Dave last week: 13-2-1
Dave to-date: 39-19-10
Friday, November 6
Maine at Boston College
Jim’s pick: Boston College seems to be clicking on all cylinders. Maine definitely is not.
BC 4, Maine 1
Dave’s pick: The Eagles make it five shutouts in six games.
BC 3, Maine 0
Northeastern at Boston University
Jim’s pick: Had BU not pulled out the OT win against Denver, I’d be questioning their confidence. Even with a road tie at Vermont last week, I’m definitely questioning Northeastern’s.
BU 4, NU 2
Dave’s pick: I thought the Huskies would settle into the middle tier of Hockey East, but once again they’re burying themselves with a poor start.
BU4, NU 1.
Massachusetts at Connecticut
Jim’s pick: Each team was thumped in their last outing, but UMass lost two players for this game to suspension. That could make a difference.
UConn 3, UMass 1
Dave’s pick: Suspended players and home ice add up to a UConn win.
UConn 3, UMass 2
UMass Lowell at Vermont
Jim’s pick: As tough of a place as The Gut has been to play, it hasn’t had the same luster this year as in year’s past. Will that turn around this weekend?
UML 4, UVM 3
Dave’s pick: It’s hard to believe the Catamounts are 0-4-1 at home, but I believe the River Hawks will add to those home woes.
UML 3, UVM 1
New Hampshire at Michigan State
Jim’s pick: I just don’t know what to think of this UNH team yet. The fact they seem to be coming into its own is my only reason to pick the Wildcats on Friday.
UNH 3, MSU 2
Dave’s pick: I’d feel better about this pick if this series were at the Whitt, but I’ll go with the Wildcats.
UNH 3, MSU 2 (OT)
Minnesota at Notre Dame
Jim’s pick: This is a battle featuring a lot of NHL draft picks. That should matter as much as home ice will.
ND 4, Minn 3
Dave’s pick: The Irish get their first home win and move to 4-1-2.
ND 3, Minn 2
Saturday, November 7
Boston University at Northeastern
Jim’s pick: I don’t think change of venue will matter in the outcome.
BU 3, NU 2
Dave’s pick: The Huskies fall to 1-7-1. I sure didn’t see that coming. Neither, I’m sure, did the Huskies themselves.
BU 3, NU 1
Connecticut at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: UMass has been a good enough home ice team that I’ll pick them back at Mullins Center.
UMass 5, UConn 4
Dave’s pick: I believe I was on the UMass bandwagon for all of a period or two. I see UConn grabbing a broom.
UConn 4, UMass 3
UMass Lowell at Vermont
Jim’s pick: I have a really difficult time picking a sweep here but I think Lowell is playing a good enough brand of hockey to pull this off right now.
UML 2, UVM 1
Dave’s pick: Not me. Picking a sweep by fourth-ranked Lowell is about as easy as they come.
UML 3, UVM 1
Merrimack at Canisius
Jim’s pick: This being a long bus trip is the only thing that could slow down Merrimack, and I don’t think it will.
MC 4, CC 2
Dave’s pick: Ya gotta love the Warriors’ special teams. Their power play is a woeful 1-for-27 for a Hockey East-worst 3.7 percent. But their penalty kill ranks best in the league, 24-for-26. I’m working on a narrative for that, but for now I’ll chalk some of that up to small sample sizes.
MC 3, CC1
New Hampshire at Michigan State
Jim’s pick: This is the night Michigan State goaltender Jake Hildebrand stands on his head to steal one.
MSU 2, UNH 1
Dave’s pick: Not for me. Give me the Wildcats with the sweep.
UNH 4, MSU 2
Minnesota at Notre Dame
Jim’s pick: This series feels like a split, but I look at recent results for the Irish and believe they can sweep.
ND 4, Minn 2
Dave’s pick: I’d like to be disagreeing more with Jim, but it’s a long season and I’ll stick to my guns. Go, Irish!
ND 4, Minn 3
Sunday, November 8
Maine at Boston College
Jim’s pick: Even a day off in the middle of this series isn’t enough for Maine.
BC 5, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: I’m going to keep picking BC shutouts until some team other than Denver shows it can score on the Eagles. As for Maine, those early-season ties still look good, but a loss here makes it 0-6-3 with no points inside Hockey East.
BC 4, Maine 0
Tuesday, November 10
Army West Point at Connecticut
Jim’s pick: Other than Northeastern being swept by Bentley, AHC has been good to the Hockey East non-league winning percentage. That continues.
UConn 4, Army 1
Dave’s pick: I believe this means I’m picking UConn to win all three games on its long weekend.
UConn 5, Army 1
Thursday, November 12
Northeastern at Notre Dame
Jim’s pick: Notre Dame remains perfect in Hockey East play.
ND 4, NU 2
Dave’s pick: It’s hard to muster faith in the Huskies right now.
ND 4, NU 1
