Hockey East picks, Dec. 9 -13

With a number of upsets last week, Jim and I were both less than mediocre with our picks.

Here are this week’s picks:

Friday, Dec. 9

Massachusetts at Connecticut 
Dave’s pick:  Both teams are coming off surprisingly strong weekends. My money is on UConn keeping that momentum going.
UConn 3, UMass 2
Jim’s pick: UConn’s tough early schedule should prepare them for this game.
UConn 4, UMass 2

Boston University at Vermont
Dave’s pick: I have a tough time picking against a team as talented as BU even when it’s on the road.
BU 3, UVM 2
Jim’s pick: If Vermont plays like they did in Belfast, I like their chances. So I will go with the Cats on night one.
UVM 3, BU 2

Merrimack at Massachusetts-Lowell
Dave’s pick: The River Hawks stumbled big time last weekend, getting only a single point in their series with UConn. Another weekend like that and the bandwagon will have come to a screeching halt.
UML 4, MC 2
Jim’s pick: Certainly Lowell is looking for more consistency. Hopefully a series against the Merrimack Valley rivals brings that out.
UML 5, MC 3

American International at Maine
Dave’s pick: We’ve learned to respect Atlantic Hockey teams, but AIC is under .500 within that league and Maine is hosting. So I see the Black Bears getting back on track after getting swept by UNH.
Maine 4, AIC 2
Jim’s pick: Like Dave said, this won’t be an easy game, but I still think Maine wins.
Maine 4, AIC 2

Providence at RIT 
Dave’s pick: My belief in the Friars has been shaken–1-4-2 in Hockey East? Really?–but I’m going to stick with them one more week, even against the team atop the Atlantic Hockey standings.
PC 3, RIT 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: RIT plays well at home and is one of the stronger teams in Atlantic Hockey.
RIT 4, PC 2

Saturday, Dec. 10

Massachusetts-Lowell at Merrimack 
Dave’s pick: A few weeks ago, I’d have picked a Lowell sweep, but the River Hawks have stumbled and Merrimack has played better than expected: some good nonconference wins plus ties with BC and UNH and three-of-four points from Providence. So I think the Warriors hold serve at home.
MC 4, UML 3
Jim’s pick: This is another tough game to pick for the reasons Dave stated above. But I still think Lowell can pull this win out.
UML 3, MC 2

Boston College at Notre Dame
Dave’s pick: With BC off to its best start ever in Hockey East–ever!–it’s hard to pick against the Eagles.
BC 3, UND 2
Jim’s pick: Agreed. The Irish haven’t shown the consistency thus far to justify this pick.
BC 4, UND 2

Boston University at Vermont
Dave’s pick: Vermont readers will shake their heads (yet again), but I think BU sweeps.
BU 4, UVM 2
Jim’s pick: I will pick the split here, giving BU a more pleasant ride home.
BU 3, UVM 1

American International at Maine
Dave’s pick: A Black Bears sweep is just what the doctor ordered after taking it on the chin last week.
Maine 4, AIC 2
Jim’s pick: Agreed. This is a much needed sweep for Maine to restore some form of confidence.
Maine 5, AIC 2

New Hampshire at Dartmouth 
Dave’s pick: Dartmouth plays well at home, but I caught a mild-temp version of Wildcat fever last weekend. Give me the upset.
UNH 3, DU 2 (OT)
Jim’s pick: I don’t know if this is an upset, even though Dartmouth has played well in this annual battle.
UNH 5, DU 3

Providence at RIT 
Dave’s pick: Picking Providence to sweep a team as good as RIT on the road is borderline insane, but sanity has never been my strong suit.
PC 4, RIT 3 (OT)
Jim’s pick: Providence can bounce back on night two of this tough AHC series.
PC 3, RIT 2

Tuesday, Dec. 13

Massachusetts at Princeton
Dave’s pick: I’m not sure what to make of Princeton. The Tigers are a miserable 1-6-1 in ECAC play and have already lost four games by three or more goals. But they also swept No. 13 Bemidji State. On the road. So I’m just going with home ice.
PU 2, UMass 1
Jim’s pick: I think UMass has shown it can play hockey and, despite a couple of nice wins of late for Princeton, I like the Minutemen.
UMass 3, PU 2

Yale at Boston University
Dave’s pick: Yale is 1-4-1 in ECAC play so this is definitely a trap game at home for the Terriers, but they’ll prevail.
BU 4, YU 1
Jim’s pick: BU can take care of Yale if the Bulldogs continue to play the way they have.
BU 5, YU 2