It’s the first full weekend of conference action of 2018 as most of the teams have wrapped up their non-conference schedule.
Last time: 6-8-2
Overall: 41-31-5
All games are 7 p.m. puck drop
Friday, January 12
Colgate at Brown
We saw how much of a difference Colton Point can make for the Raiders as he returned to the crease on Saturday. Brown is coming off two straight ties against New Hampshire and Maine. I will take Colgate as they have goaltending advantage.
Quinnipiac at Dartmouth
Two points separated these teams in the standings as the Bobcats are in sixth and Dartmouth is in a tie for ninth. Quinnipiac may have the advantage in terms of depth from top to bottom on the roster. The Big Green know how to keep games low scoring as these two teams battled to a scoreless tie earlier in the season. Quinnipiac wins.
Princeton at Harvard
There were big expectations for both of these teams heading into the season and both teams haven’t met them. The Crimson is turning things around a bit while Princeton haven’t won a game since Dec. 8 against Arizona St. Harvard wins.
St. Lawrence at Rensselaer
Two of the bottom teams in the standings battle it out. The Saints are playing some of their best hockey right how but just lost one of their better defensemen in Ben Finkelstein who left the school for personal reasons. The Engineers have been struggling since Dec. 1 when they defeated Yale, but are coming off a solid tie against Harvard. RPI wins
Clarkson at Union
The game of the night in the ECAC as the Golden Knights have been one of the hottest teams in the nation while the Dutchmen are very strong inside the conference. If there’s a game Clarkson may slip up it might be against Union. If the Dutchmen want to pull the upset they will need contribution from the bottom-six. Clarkson wins.
Cornell at Yale
The Big Red hit the road for the first time since the first weekend of December. You never know what Yale team you will get, they have looked good and others not so much. If they keep it a defensive game, they have a shot. Cornell may be to skilled to keep it a low scoring game. The Big Red wins.
Saturday, January 13
Cornell at Brown
The Bears top end players are solid enough that this game may be a tight one. This game screams the Big Red will wear Brown down as the game goes along. Cornell picks up up the victory.
Princeton at Dartmouth
A rivalry game, anything can happen and it’s an evenly matched game between the two teams. Princeton had the advantage in terms the top six talent but the Big Green have the experience in goal. Dartmouth has played well lately in big games. Dartmouth wins.
Quinnipiac at Harvard
At the beginning of the year, this looked like a match-up everyone circled on their calendar. It’s still an important game as the Bobcats want to close the gap in the standings. Harvard holds that coverted fourth slot. When you think Harvard has turned it around, they suffer another speed bump. Quinnipiac wins.
Clarkson at RPI
This is the quintessential trap game for the Golden Knights coming off a big game against Union. Even if Clarkson doesn’t play their best hockey, they have enough depth and goaltending to squeak by if it’s an one goal game Clarkson wins.
Colgate at Yale
First team to one goal? That might be all it takes to win this game as both teams struggled to score. Yale has only scored 40 times while the Raiders have only scored 51 times this season. This is the type of game the Bulldogs finds a way to come out on top. Yale wins.
St. Lawrence at Union
For the Saints, their hot start to the second half may suffer a setback on Saturday. It might be the case of the mojo wearing out. Union is a vetern squad and I think that will play a factor in the contest. The Dutchmen win.
