Last week was a tough one for me, particularly in the ECAC, where I incorrectly picked three results. I finished 12-5-4 (.666) last week, which isn’t too terrible. That brings my season record to 162-54-24 (.725). The WCHA and ECAC kick off their first round playoff series this week, and Mercyhurst closes its season. Let’s get to it.
Friday, February 25
Robert Morris at Mercyhurst: Look for the Lakers to go big in this one and generate momentum for the playoffs next week, which they should sweep through. Mercyhurst 5-1
ECAC
Rensselaer at Cornell: One loss to Dartmouth and one tie with Clarkson was all that stood between Cornell and a perfect conference record. The loss occurred last weekend. Despite that, the Big Red are the team to beat, and should sweep this series. Cornell 4-1, 5-0
Clarkson at Dartmouth: The Big Green upset Cornell last weekend to get some momentum going into this series. but didn’t play too well against Colgate. Clarkson has been mercurial all season, and has enough to trouble Dartmouth, but I’m going with home ice, probably in three games. Dartmouth 3-2, Clarkson 3-1, Dartmouth 2-1
St. Lawrence at Harvard: It wasn’t too long ago that this would have been the likely ECAC championship tilt. This is a really hard series to call. On paper, the Crimson should win. St. Lawrence has been wildly inconsistent this season, looking great at times and poor at others. Like the Dartmouth series, I’m going with home ice in three games. Harvard 4-1, St. Lawrence 2-1, Harvard 3-2
Princeton at Quinnipiac: The Bobcats stumbled in the last weekend, losing to Yale and tying Brown. Princeton’s best result was an upset of Boston College. Still, I think Quinnipiac has enough to get by the Tigers. It might go three games. Quinnipiac 3-2, 3-1
WCHA
St. Cloud at Wisconsin: A mismatch if ever there was one. At least the Huskies pitiful campaign wasn’t without a win. Look for the Badgers to romp. Wisconsin 5-0, 6-1
Minnesota State at Minnesota-Duluth: After some rough spots, the Bulldogs righted ship in the last month and again look like a threat. Look for a sweep. Minnesota-Duluth 4-1, 5-1
Ohio State at Minnesota: Despite a loss last weekend to North Dakota, the Gophers have been one of the hottest teams in the country since January. Ohio State has been inconsistent, and that will hurt them. Gophers sweep. Minnesota 4-1, 4-0
Bemidji State at North Dakota: The only really competitive series in the WCHA’s first round pits two teams looking to establish themselves in the upper echelon. Hard to pick this one, but I’m going to go with home ice and the big game experience of the Lamoureux sisters. It might go three, but I’ll call a sweep. North Dakota 4-2, 3-1
