Hockey East picks – Dec. 1-6

Jim and I differed on four games last week, and I was right in three of them. Call the New York Times! I’m finally in the lead.

But am I allowed to celebrate such a lousy performance?

Here are this week’s picks:

Friday, Dec. 1

Vermont at Maine 
Dave’s pick: At home, give me the Blacks Bears, fresh off their trip to Ireland.
Maine 3, UVM 2
Jim’s pick: Honestly, I think that Vermont is a better team away from the Gut. I’m going with the Cats.
UVM 4, Maine 3

Merrimack at Northeastern
Dave’s pick: Just as soon as I hop on the Huskies’ bandwagon, they toss me to the curb. After sweeping Lowell and BU, they lose three out of four. Color me confused.
NU 4, MC 3
Jim’s pick: I’m just as confused but I also haven’t seen enough from Merrimack to pick them in this series.
NU 5, MC 3

UConn at Massachusetts
Dave’s pick: UConn has won three in a row; UMass, three of four. I’ve got to put my money where my mouth is. Minutemen in a squeaker.
UMass 3, UConn 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: I’m in agreement here. I know I haven’t picked UMass that often over the last couple of seasons, but a big part of my horrid record last weekend was picking against them.
UMass 3, UConn 1

New Hampshire at Providence
Dave’s pick: Here’s another tight match-up. I think the Friars are the better team, but not by as much as I would have thought two months ago.
PC 3, UNH 2
Jim’s pick: New Hampshire was giving me cause for concern and then beat Yale. Providence is very good but, as we saw last weekend, gets in penalty trouble. Pick UNH, right? Well.
PC 3, UNH 2

Boston University at Boston College 
Dave’s pick: At this point, I’d need rocks in my head to pick the Terriers.
BC 4, BU 2
Jim’s pick: Who’d have thought at the end of October that picking BC here would be a given.
BC 3, BU 2

Saturday, Dec. 2

Vermont at Maine 
Dave’s pick: Some Alfond magic gives the Black Bears the sweep.
Maine 4, UVM 3
Jim’s pick: I’ll give Maine game two, even though I think Vermont could pull the sweep here.
Maine 5, UVM 3

Northeastern at Merrimack
Dave’s pick: I should probably go with the Warriors on their home ice, but I’m sticking with Northeastern one more week. This time, I really mean it.
NU 3, MC 2
Jim’s pick: There’s simply so much more talent on this Northeastern team.
NU 4, MC 2

Providence at New Hampshire
Dave’s pick: This home-and-home screams for the hosts to win each night. But I can’t help thinking Providence pulls this one out.
PC 4, UNH 3 (OT)
Jim’s pick: Back in New Hampshire, I think I’ll take my chances and pick the hosts.
UNH 4, PC 2

Boston College at Boston University
Dave’s pick: Perhaps the rivalry wakes up the erratic Terriers, but give me the Eagles in a sweep.
BC 3, BU 2
Jim’s pick: If BC indeed can pull off this sweep, they’ll have a very impressive Hockey East record (10-1-0) with just one game left before break.
BC 2, BU 1

Tuesday, Dec. 5

Massachusetts at UConn 
Dave’s pick: Could the Minutemen make it five out of six? It could happen, but I think UConn will be too tough at home to be swept.
UConn 3, UMass 2
Jim’s pick: Agreed. I think UConn is always tougher at home.
UConn 4, UMass 1

Wednesday, Dec. 6

New Hampshire at Rensselaer
Dave’s pick: I’m afraid UNH will have a tough time with Providence over the weekend, but the Wildcats will get back on track in this one.
UNH 4, RPI 2
Jim’s pick: UNH is simply a better team on paper. Let’s hope that translates on ice.
UNH 5, RPI 1