Last week:
Dan: 5-5
Chris: 3-7
On the season:
Dan: 121-73-27 (.609)
Chris: 125-69-27 (.627)
This Week’s Picks
Atlantic Hockey Playoffs – First Round
Best of Three Series
Friday, March 6 – Sunday, March 8
No. 11 Niagara at No. 6 Holy Cross
Dan: Niagara is picking up steam at exactly the right time to be that #11 seed you simply don’t want to play. 2-1-1 in their last four games, this series will rest on if Jackson Teichroeb can match Matt Ginn. Can he? Maybe. But I can’t pick the with confidence having to come east. Holy Cross in two.
Chris: Despite having the widest gap in terms of seedings, and despite Holy Cross winning all four meetings between the schools so far this season, I think this will be the most closely contested of the three series this weekend. But I expect the Crusaders to prevail in a trio of low scoring games. Holy Cross in Three.
No. 10 American International at No. 7 Air Force
Dan: AIC has never advanced out of a three-game series and boast only three playoff round victories – a divisional playoff win over Army in 2011 and two play-in game wins (2004 over Army and 2007 over Canisius). I have high hopes for the Yellow Jackets, but being saddled with a trip west to Colorado doesn’t help the situation. I’m taking Air Force in two.
Chris: At 14-19-4, Air Force is under .500 for the first time since joining Atlantic Hockey in 2006. But the Falcons are still tough on home ice (10-6-1) and I think will take care of business. Air Force in two.
No. 9 Army at No. 8 Sacred Heart
Dan: Sacred Heart is the team getting hot at the right time of the year, finishing the season on a 5-2-3 clip. They played their way into home ice, and they’re starting to resemble the style of hockey team that’s going to ruin the hopes of dreams of someone along the way. Army, meanwhile, played pretty much .500 hockey since their exhibition against the Canadian RMC. They’re 3-4-2 since playing the Paladins. Call this one the series of the weekend, which is fitting since this is the 8/9 matchup. Sacred Heart in three.
Chris: Army held its own down the stretch against some tough opponents, splitting series with three of the top four teams in the league. But Sacred Heart is also playing its best hockey of the season, defeating Bentley and Holy Cross buy a combined score of 9-1 in its last two regular season games. I’m going with the Pioneers to sweep.
