Last week:
Dan: 5-5-1
Chris: 5-5-1
On the season:
Dan: 47-38-14 (.545)
Chris: 51-34-14 (.586)
This Week’s Picks:
Friday, December 2 and Saturday, December 3
Bentley at Canisius
Dan: There’s a couple of different ways of looking at Bentley. They’re either the team that’s won only once in over a month, or they’re the team that’s earned four points in their last four games. You’d be right either way. In what will be a battle of two of Atlantic Hockey’s best netminders, Charles Williams has a little bit better roster in front of him right now. If this series were in Watertown, I’d think differently. Canisius sweeps.
Chris:Bentley has struggled recently against Canisius (0-5-1) but I think they’ll get at least two points here. Canisius wins Friday, Bentley on Saturday.
Air Force at Holy Cross
Dan: Holy Cross is all of a sudden mortal, having gone 1-3-1 in their last five games after opening with a 4-1-1 record. While Air Force is 1-2-1 in their last four, they didn’t exactly come against any slouches. Going back further, there’s three straight conference wins, including a sweep over RIT in there. Air Force sweeps.
Chris: Air Force coach Frank Serratore once told me that Hart Center was one of the toughest places in the league for his Falcons to play: “They’re a big purple blob coming at you.” I’m going with the blob and the Falcons to split with Holy Cross winning Friday and Air Force on Saturday.
Sacred Heart at Robert Morris
Dan: Nearly everyone is saying the same thing about Robert Morris – they’re better than we thought they’d be. At this point in the season, I like Sacred Heart to take a point somewhere, but since we can’t pick ties, I’m taking RMU to sweep.
Chris: The Pioneers have won two in a row, including an upset of UConn last weekend. But RMU is much better than I thought they would be at this juncture, and I’m picking the Colonials to sweep.
RIT at Niagara
Dan: RIT’s last two weekends were a sweep against Army West Point and a win at Mercyhurst. Talk about turning things around. RIT sweeps.
Chris:The Tigers have historically struggled at Dwyer Arena,but come in on a bit of a roll. Niagara’s defense and goaltending are moving in the right direction recently, but I’m still going with an RIT sweep.
Friday, December 2
American International at Army West Point
Dan: If you listen closely, you can actually hear the AIC bandwagon firing on all pistons. A win on Friday opens the door for us to wake up in a world where the Yellow Jackets are in first place on Saturday morning. I want to pick them badly in this game, but my brain is going to beat out my heart. Army West Point wins.
Chris: This is a homecoming for AIC first-year coach, Eric Lang, a former assistant at Army. But I think the Black Knights will spoil the party. Army West Point wins.
Saturday, December 3
Brown at Army West Point
Dan: Brown enters the game desperate for positives, but there’s one thing that always wins out – goaltending. Parker Gahagen is one of the best statistical goalies in the country; that’s just bad timing for the Bears. Army West Point wins.
Chris: This is the lone non-conference game of the weekend, with Army West Point staying home and facing the struggling Bears. I like the Black Knights to win on home ice.
