Last week:
Dan: 6-3-2
Chris: 6-3-2
On the season:
Dan: 84-67-24 (.549)
Chris: 95-56-24 (.611)
This Week’s Picks
Friday, February 9 and Saturday, February 10
Air Force at Bentley
Chris:Assuming they actually play these games (Air Force will not be able to play if the government shuts down again and the deadline is Feb. 8), this should be a whale of a series, the final games for Bentley at the JAR. This is more of a wish than a pick, but I’d like to see the place close down with a win by the Falcons. Err, the Bentley Falcons. So I’m going with an Air Force win on Friday and a Bentley win on Saturday.
Dan: It’s always melancholy to say farewell to an old friend. While Bentley Arena looms, the Falcons say goodbye to the JAR with a series against Air Force. Nine years ago, Air Force beat Bentley in the second game I ever worked at the JAR. They rallied from down 2-0 in the second to win as time expired. Bentley won on Saturday. Using that as a baseline, why not? Thanks for the memories, JAR. Air Force wins on Friday. Bentley wins on Saturday.
Holy Cross at Mercyhurst
Chris: This has always been a spirited rivalry despite the distance between the schools. Holy Cross is currently tied for first and Mercyhurst, riding a seven-game unbeaten streak, is coming up fast. I think when the dust settles, the Lakers and Crusaders will find themselves tied. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Dan: The last 10 meetings have gone dead even in this series, with the teams tying to the tune of a 3-3-4 record. We can’t pick ties, which is a certified bummer. So let’s just go with the home team, and the fact that the Lakers are 36-16-9 all-time against the Crusaders. Mercyhurst sweeps.
Sacred Heart at Niagara
Chris: It’s a testament to the league that I have no idea who to favor in this series. Each team is capable of sweeping the other and while they’re jockeying for playoff seedings, I wouldn’t want to play either team in the postseason. I’m going with the home team. Niagara sweeps.
Dan: I like Sacred Heart. The Pioneers are big and physical and much better than last week’s sweep loss to RMU would indicate. Had they not had the Saturday game canceled against Air Force, they might have some more mojo coming into this weekend. We’ll never really know, but I still like them. They’re also much better on the road this year than at home, going 5-7-1 with bus legs as opposed to 2-9-3 at home. I think they take one. Sacred Heart wins on Friday. Niagara wins on Saturday.
Rochester Institute of Technology at Robert Morris
Chris: Here we have a classic case of teams heading in opposite directions. The Tigers are swooning and RMU is one of the hottest teams in the league right now. Combine that with the home ice advantage, I think we’ll see a Robert Morris sweep.
Dan: This is not the series RIT could be hoping for. The Tigers are a team capable of winning every night, but in the same breath, they very easy could lose. I guess that’s stating the obvious. Robert Morris sweeps.
Army West Point at Canisius
Chris: I think this is going to be a great series. Army West Point is better than its .500 record and Canisius needs nine points in its last six games to repeat as regular season champs. I’m picking the Golden Griffins to keep their feet on the gas. Canisius sweeps.
Dan: Somebody better buy stock in Reynolds Wrap because this series is going to put on the foil.
…I’ll see myself out. Canisius sweeps.
Monday, February 12
RIT at Mercyhurst
Chris: The Tigers will stop on their way home from Robert Morris to play this makeup game, postponed from Dec. 31 due to a massive storm that hit Erie, PA. Mercyhurst handled RIT easily in their one other meeting so far this season, and I expect more of the same. Mercyhurst wins.
Dan: Atlantic Hockey is incredibly weird. This is a game that, based on the previous meeting, would handily go to the Lakers. So, naturally, RIT probably wins it. RIT wins.
Tuesday, February 13
Air Force vs. Sacred Heart
Chris: Another makeup game, this one from the weekend of the government shutdown. That game was supposed to take place at Air Force, but since it wasn’t likely the league was going to fly SHU back to Colorado Springs for a single game, this one will be played on neutral ice at Quinnipiac. Air Force will stick around after its series with Bentley, and I think the result will be worth the hassle Barring another shutdown, I’m picking Air Force to win.
Dan: TD Bank Sports Center is a great arena, and it’s a fun place to watch a game. If anyone gets the chance to take this one in, it might be worth the price of admission. Air Force wins.
