Game of the Week
The next two weekends consist of all nonconference games for the SUNYAC teams. Thus, there are a lot of games taking place — 14 this weekend, with another four spread out during the week. Brockport plays four games this upcoming week. So, picking just one game of the week is impossible.
There’s even a tournament, as Morrisville plays in the Norwich Classic, facing the host team the first night. Norwich will win that one. The Mustangs will then play either Elmira or Fitchburg State.
There are two games that are most intriguing, only because of a scheduling quirk. Plattsburgh just played Castleton in the Cardinal Classic championship, and here they are again playing each other in Plattsburgh. Plattsburgh won that game against the then No. 3 team, 2-1, outshooting the Spartans by a two-to-one margin. That win enabled Plattsburgh to move into the No. 3 spot, dropping Castleton to fourth.
It’s always tough to beat a top-five team two games in a row, especially one week apart, but I’ll go with the home team again.
Potsdam just played Skidmore in the Middlebury Classic, and here they are again playing each other, this time in Potsdam. They tied last week, 4-4, despite Skidmore reeling off 60 shots on net, as Potsdam failed to hold onto two-goal leads three times. Since the game is in Potsdam this time, I expect the Bears to be one goal better.
The two visitors then switch North Country rinks for Saturday. Plattsburgh will complete the weekend sweep, beating Skidmore, while Castleton will salvage a win, upending Potsdam.
Other picks
Thanks to Potsdam tying both their games, I was 2-0-2 as action returned last weekend, for a total of 44-14-9 (.724).
Geneseo plays two games at Franklin Pierce. There is no reason to believe the Ice Knights won’t take both games. If they so much as tie one of them, then we know something is seriously wrong in Geneseo.
Geneseo then hosts Hobart on Wednesday. I’ll take Geneseo to win again, continuing a mini win streak.
Brockport also plays the same opponent twice, but four days apart at each other’s barns. The Golden Eagles host Neumann on Friday and then travel to Pennsylvania on Tuesday. Even though Brockport has done very well against the ECAC West, after Neumann shutout Oswego, I don’t have the guts to pick anything other than a Knights sweep.
In between, Brockport travels to Hobart. I like Brockport’s chances, but I’ll take Hobart. Brockport then hosts Western New England College on Thursday in a battle of “Golden” teams. The Golden Bears have certainly improved this year. This game could go either way, but I’ll take the home team.
No doubt the best game during the week is Elmira at Fredonia on Tuesday night. Elmira has struggled against the public school conference, their only win coming against Fredonia. I’ll pick the Blue Devils to avenge that loss.
Buffalo State has some tough road games at St. Anselm and New England College. It will not be easy, but I’m taking the Bengals to win them both.
Cortland also has two tough opponents on the road — Utica and Manhattanville. I don’t see the Red Dragons winning any of them.
