Hockey East picks: Feb. 24-25

I made sure I differed from Jim in a large number of games last week and only got one wrong through the weekend, but the five ties left me still three back. Then I lost the Thursday night match, so I’m in real trouble. This week, I’m picking first so I’ll just have to hope Jim makes a few choices different than mine.

Here are this week’s picks:

Friday, Feb. 24

Notre Dame at Boston University 
Dave’s pick: The Terriers have had their ups and downs of late while Notre Dame is riding a six-game unbeaten streak, including taking three-of-four points from a red-shot Providence club last weekend. Pure momentum says go with the Irish, but I’m sticking with BU.
BU 3, UND 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: I will stick with BU, at least on night one. I feel this is a split series all the way, which could make for some very interesting tiebreak scenarios.
BU 3, UND 2

Providence at Massachusetts
Dave’s pick: The Friars did get cooled off at South Bend last weekend, but they’re still a ball of fire compared to the frozen Minutemen.
PC 5, UMass 2
Jim’s pick: Even on the road, I think that Providence, playing as they have of late, can win this one.
PC 4, UMass 1

Connecticut at New Hampshire
Dave’s pick: UConn has one win in its last 10 games; UNH has one win in its last 11. Ouch! I’ll go with home ice.
UNH 4, UConn 3
Jim’s pick: Home ice makes sense to me, though I shake my head at where these teams have gone in the second half.
UNH 3, UConn 1

Merrimack at Vermont
Dave’s pick: The Catamounts have been my Achilles’ heel all season long, so I should probably ignore their two ties with BC last weekend. But, of course, I won’t. Give me Vermont.
UVM 3, MC 2
Jim’s pick: Red hot Merrimack might find a way to take points from Burlington. But I really like the way Vermont played on the road last weekend
UVM 4, MC 2

Northeastern at Maine
Dave’s pick: Despite Maine’s trials and tribulations this year, the team is still 9-7-0 at home, while the Huskies have a pronounced home-away split. On the other hand, Northeastern has won four straight.
NU 4, UM 3
Jim’s pick: Here we go again with Northeastern. The Huskies win at the end of the year and being healthy makes them the strong favorite.
NU 5, UM 2

Boston College at UMass Lowell
Dave’s pick: Home ice hasn’t mattered a whole lot for either team this year–they been strong at home and on the road–so this contest could absolutely go either way. I picked BC to win on Thursday night, while Jim went with Lowell. I suspect he’ll go with the River Hawks again, so I’m taking BC as an upset pick.
BC 3, UML 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: Dave nailed it right here, and gives himself to pick up the game he lost when Lowell won on Thursday.
UML 4, BC 2

Saturday, Feb. 25

Northeastern at Maine 
Dave’s pick:Despite the venue, I’m going for a Northeastern sweep.
NU 4, UM 3
Jim’s pick: Agreed. Yes, Maine is better at home, but Northeastern’s offense is finally clicking.
NU 3, UM 2

Notre Dame at Boston University
Dave’s pick: The Irish could certainly pull off a road sweep and maybe even put itself in position for a share of first place, but I’m going with a BU sweep that might accomplish that very same thing.
BU 4, UND 3
Jim’s pick: Notre Dame will get points from BU this weekend, I believe. Let’s just hope I pick this split correctly.
UND 3, BU 1

Massachusetts at Providence
Dave’s pick: UMass finishes its regular season with a fifteenth straight loss. No, not even a tie.
PC 5, UMass 1
Jim’s pick: Not sure this will be enough to get Providence home ice, but they’ll certainly head to the playoffs with confidence.
PC 5, UMass 2

Merrimack at Vermont
Dave’s pick: Here’s yet another sweep I’m predicting, hoping that Jim goes with at least a couple splits.
UVM 2, MC 1
Jim’s pick: I want to go with the split here, but it’s close enough it’s not worth losing ground taking a chance.
UVM 3, MC 1

New Hampshire at Connecticut 
Dave’s pick: Here’s the one and only split I’m going for, based purely on home ice.
UConn 4, UNH 3
Jim’s pick: I’ll concur with Dave here. UConn will earn a split here winning for the seniors at home.
UConn 4, UNH 2