This weekend’s featured matchup needs no hype. The numbers speak for themselves, as No. 2 Elmira travels to play No. 1 Plattsburgh.
All the clichés apply here. It’s a date both teams had circled on their calendars and for good reason.
It wouldn’t surprise us in the least to see one of these teams hoist a national championship in a few weeks, and this weekend may be an indication which bird does it, the Soaring Eagles or the Cardinals.
It may be hard to pick a winner here, as all we can say is “Hmmm,” and then more of the same.
That said, our weekend picks for this series and two other series are below.
Friday, Jan. 30
No. 5 Adrian at St. Scholastica
Candace: Home ice might keep this close, but I like Adrian to win. Adrian 4-1
Matt: Adrian swept St. Scholastica earlier this season, but overall, St. Scholastica is 8-8-2. Even so, St. Scholastica has just three wins in eight games since Dec. 12. Adrian rolls here and does it on the back of goalie Jade Walsh, who I figure to get some Laura Hurd Award attention.
Saturday, Jan. 31
No. 2 Elmira at No. 1 Plattsburgh
Candace: I’m not going to overthink this. Home ice wins. Plattsburgh 3-2
Matt: Wow. Just. Wow. I’m not a betting man by any means and if I was, this series would petrify me to no end. The two best teams in the country going at it. What’s better than that? The fan in me says a split, but so does the journalist in me. I see Plattsburgh winning Saturday and then Elmira getting the win Sunday, either on a late goal or in overtime.
Monday, Feb. 2
No. 3 Norwich at No. 4 Middlebury
Candace: This one will also be quite the battle, and I will again pick home ice in the battle of Vermont. Middlebury 3-2
Matt: The top four teams battling one another over a three-day span? Yes, please. This is an NCAA tournament primer, for sure. Norwich plays Plymouth State and Massachusetts-Boston over the weekend and then Middlebury on Monday, while Middlebury has two games with Hamilton prior to Norwich. It’ll be a close game between two tired clubs, but Norwich gets the duke.
