Last week:
Dan: 7-3
Chris: 7-2
On the season:
Dan: 133-79-27 (.613)
Chris: 137-73-27 (.635)
So I retain my title despite a nice comeback by Dan in February. I’m leading by five games with just three left (The number of games picked are different due to the way we pick best-of-three series).
This Week’s Picks
Atlantic Hockey Playoffs – Semifinals
Friday, March 20
No. 5 Mercyhurst vs. No. 1 Robert Morris
Dan: Prior to the season, I floated this game as a possibility for Saturday in the league championship, with the Lakers winning it all this year. But the Colonials are a team on a mission, and I don’t think Mercyhurst is going to be able to come back again if they go down two goals here. RMU advances.
Chris: The Lakers showed a lot of resiliency after a rough end to the regular season and being down late in their third and deciding game at Bentley last weekend. They’re a dangerous team and will be hard to put away. But Robert Morris is the best team in the league and has proved that over the last 22 weeks. The best team doesn’t always win, but it gets my pick. Robert Morris wins.
No. 3 Rochester Institute of Technology vs. No. 2 Canisius
Dan: I could give you hockey analysis here, or I could just tell you my gut feeling. It’s taken the Tigers three years to get back to Blue Cross Arena for a postseason game, and with the hometown crowd in their corner, I believe in RIT. Canisius is a very good team, a former champion, and a team that’s proven time and time again that they know how to win. But I’m picking the orange and black. RIT wins.
Chris: RIT fans love it when I pick against the Tigers, because I’m often wrong (although I picked 63% of games correctly this season). This is a classic matchup between Canisius’ defense and RIT’s offense and Canisius’ power play vs. RIT’s penalty kill. In the end I think it will come down to goaltending and here the Golden Griffins have the edge. So be happy, Tiger fans because I’m going with the higher seed. Canisius wins.
Atlantic Hockey Playoffs – Finals
Saturday, March 21
? vs. ?
Dan: The defending champions go for two in a row against the team that calls Brick City home. In a one-game series, throw the tale of the tape out the window; this one’s going to be fun. But I’m picking Robert Morris for a second straight year to win it all after watching them lead the conference tape-to-tape and prove deserving of national recognition. No glass slipper needed this year. RMU wins.
Chris: It’s hard to pick against a team that has been building to this all year. Anything less than a title will seem like a failure to Robert Morris, and I think the Colonials will handle the pressure and get the job done. Robert Morris wins against either Canisius or RIT.
