Well, as has been the case for much of the second half of the year, Arlan and I split the difference in the games we picked differently, as I correctly called a Syracuse sweep of RIT and he called Harvard beating Boston University. Last week, we both struggled due to some of the big upsets, and we went 14-7-1 (.659). Overall on the year, I am holding a slim one-game advantage heading into the final weeks of the year, as I am 199-67-24 (.727), while Arlan is 198-68-24 (.724). Can I hold him off and win the six-pack of beer again?
Friday, Feb. 15
Princeton at Clarkson
Candace: Princeton looked dreadful last week against Colgate, and Clarkson’s inconsistency isn’t enough to cost it this game. Clarkson 5-1
Arlan: This is in the domain of games the Golden Knights could lose, but I doubt that the Tigers have it in them. Clarkson 3-1
Dartmouth at Colgate
Candace: While Colgate looked good against Princeton, the Big Green are too much. Dartmouth 4-1
Arlan: The Big Green look to remain unbeaten in February. Dartmouth 4-2
Harvard at Cornell
Candace: If this game took place in January, I’d probably pick differently. Cornell 3-1
Arlan: The Crimson can afford a loss here and still be in great shape for the ECAC crown. Cornell 2-1
Quinnipiac at St. Lawrence
Candace: A win here would be big for Quinnipiac’s home ice aspirations. Quinnipiac 3-2
Arlan: The Bobcats are much better at home in conference play. St. Lawrence 3-2
Rensselaer at Yale
Candace: Yale has to win this to have any shot at the ECAC playoffs, but I expect them to fall just short. Rensselaer 4-2
Arlan: I expect the Engineers to wind up seventh in the ECAC no matter what they do the rest of the way. Rensselaer 4-3
Friday at Saturday, Feb. 15 at 16
Mercyhurst at Syracuse
Candace: Can the Orange break their streak of futility against the Lakers? I think it will be close, but they’ll fall short. Mercyhurst 4-2, 3-2
Arlan: I agree with Paul Flanagan that there’s no rhyme nor reason to what happens in the CHA, but most of that involves Robert Morris. Mercyhurst 2-1, Syracuse 3-2
Ohio State at North Dakota
Candace: This is not the same Ohio State team that split with North Dakota in October. North Dakota 4-2, 5-2
Arlan: UND has rattled off six straight; the Buckeyes have only two wins in 2013. North Dakota 4-3, 6-2
Friday and Sunday, Feb. 15 and 17
New Hampshire vs. Providence (home-and-home)
Candace: These two tied in November, and another tie wouldn’t surprise. Since I don’t want to pick the wrong game in this pair, I’ll go with Providence to sweep. Providence 3-2, 2-1
Arlan: Trailing in the contest, I’ve got to find some games to pick opposite of Candace, and these look as good as any. New Hampshire 5-4, 3-2
Saturday, Feb. 16
Rensselaer at Brown
Candace: Brown suffers from terminal lack-of-offense disease. Rensselaer 4-2
Arlan: RPI and Brown are very similar defensively, but the Engineers score twice as much in conference play. Rensselaer 2-1
Quinnipiac at Clarkson
Candace: The Golden Knights are deadly at home. Clarkson 3-1
Arlan: Clarkson remembers the Bobcats’ last visit to Potsdam all too well. Clarkson 2-1
Harvard at Colgate
Candace: Even should the Crimson beat Cornell and come out flat Saturday, they should have enough. Harvard 4-2
Arlan: Stylistically this game figures to be a bad match-up for Colgate. Harvard 5-1
Dartmouth at Cornell
Candace: Dartmouth always plays its best against Cornell, but I expect the Big Red to come out on top. Cornell 3-2
Arlan: Dartmouth always seems to play above its norm versus the Big Red. Cornell 4-3
Princeton at St. Lawrence
Candace: The Tigers just don’t have enough to beat St. Lawrence at home. St. Lawrence 4-2
Arlan: If Kimberly Newell can play like she did against Cornell, not as she did versus Colgate, then the Tigers can surprise. St. Lawrence 3-2
Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 16-17
Connecticut vs. Boston College (home-and-home)
Candace: These games could get ugly, as BC takes out its Beanpot finals frustration on its next opponent. Boston College 5-0, 6-1
Arlan: The Huskies could use another blizzard. Boston College 8-0, 7-1
Vermont at Boston University
Candace: Will the Terriers finally awaken from their offensive slump? Even if they don’t, they should be able to sweep this one. Boston University 4-2, 5-2
Arlan: Something tells me we’ll see a different BU team this weekend. Boston University 4-1, 5-0
Northeastern at Maine
Candace: Can Maine play spoiler in the 3-4-5 positions of Hockey East? Not for the Huskies anyway. Northeastern 4-1, 4-1
Arlan: Look for NU to come out flat but rally and win anyway. Northeastern 4-3, 5-1
Minnesota-Duluth at Wisconsin
Candace: I imagine the Badgers have wanted another shot at the Bulldogs since getting swept in Duluth in early October in a pair of one-goal losses. Both teams struggle with goal scoring, but Wisconsin should have enough. Wisconsin 4-2, 3-2
Arlan: The Badgers played well a week ago, and the Bulldogs didn’t. Wisconsin 2-1, 3-1
Tuesday, Feb. 19
Boston College at Providence
Candace: Eagles have to keep pace to get first and avoid Northeastern in the Hockey East semis. Boston College 6-2
Arlan: In addition to the Eagles, I also like the “over” in this one. Boston College 7-4
Northeastern at Connecticut
Candace: Kendall Coyne and company might actually rack up a lot of goals in this one. Northeastern 6-1
Arlan: This is UConn’s last best chance to improve on its one conference win. Northeastern 5-1
Wednesday, Feb. 20
New Hampshire at Boston University
Candace: I hate picking New Hampshire games. Boston University 3-2
Arlan: This game is even more of a must for the Terriers than the Wildcats. Boston University 4-2
