Last Week: 2-6
On the Season: 142-81-29 (.621)
This Week’s Picks:
Atlantic Hockey Semifinals and Finals
March 22-23
Read more about each team in my weekly AHA column.
Semifinals:
No. 7 Canisius vs. No. 1 Niagara
All that stuff about throwing out the records when these teams play each other is true. Never have the stakes been higher in this great Western New York rivalry. Canisius always matches up well with their neighbors to the northwest, but I have to go with the top-seeded Purple Eagles in a low scoring contest. If Niagara gets upset this weekend there will be about a 90% chance the Purple Eagles get in anyway with an at-large berth, putting two AHA teams into the NCAA tournament. But I don’t think it’s going to happen. Niagara wins.
No. 6 Mercyhurst vs. No. 4 Connecticut
With all due respect to the talented goalies on each team, I think this one will be more of a shootout than the first semifinal. Maybe that’s wishful thinking on my part, but this one has the potential for 7-8 goals to be scored. The more run-and-gun this game gets, the better Mercyhurst’s chances become. UConn wins if this one turns into a goaltending duel, the Lakers triumph in a goal-fest. I think the latter will occur. Mercyhurst wins.
Finals:
See above. I’m going with Niagara to win it all.
My personal odds of each team winning the title:
- Niagara: 40%
- Merchurst: 25%
- Connecticut: 20%
- Canisius 15%
USCHO will have a live chat for each game this weekend, plus stories, features and video. Check out our Playoff Central.
