{"id":104674,"date":"2020-02-28T10:00:47","date_gmt":"2020-02-28T16:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/?p=104674"},"modified":"2020-02-27T13:02:07","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T19:02:07","slug":"college-hockey-game-picks-d-iii-east-february-28-2020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp-admin.uscho.com\/2020\/02\/28\/college-hockey-game-picks-d-iii-east-february-28-2020\/","title":{"rendered":"College hockey game picks, D-III East: February 28, 2020"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"
Goalie Ben Churchfield looks to backstop UNE to a CCC semifinal playoff win over a surprising Wentworth squad (Photo – David Bates)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It is a quick turnaround for many teams entering the playoffs and the final push towards a conference championship. Upsets abounded last weekend and already this week with Nazareth, Wentworth and Potsdam all taking out higher seeds in conference tournament play. Now is a time where the cream needs to rise to the top in order to win and advance. I finished last week with a mark of 7-3-0 (.700) which was a solid week. The overall season record now stands at 83-42-9 (.653) and I am working on some solid positive momentum entering the playoff schedule.<\/p>\n

Here are this week\u2019s picks for all of the quarterfinal and semifinal round playoff action in the East:<\/p>\n

Friday, February 28, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stevenson @ Wilkes<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe UCHC format definitely creates excitement with the two games and potential mini-game to decide the advancing team. Neither team finished the regular season on the positive roll they would like to enter the playoffs, but the Mustangs took a positive step on Wednesday winning their way to the next round. The Colonels have a lot of offensive firepower but look for Michael Paterson-Jones to be the difference in the crease for the home team through the mini-game finale \u2013 Wilkes, 5-2 \u2013 1-2 & 1-0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Saturday, February 29, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Franklin Pierce @ Assumption<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Greyhounds went 2-1-0 against the Ravens in the regular season with both wins coming on home ice. The super-sophomores of Robert Holyoke, Dante Maribito and Michael Zampanti will be the offensive keys to getting the home team into the NE-10 championship game \u2013 Assumption, 4-3<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Stonehill @ St. Michael\u2019s<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe teams went 1-1-1 in the three games including last weekend\u2019s win and tie for the host team that had to rally for the win on Friday. The Purple Knights are 8-2-3 at home so look for a potential overtime win fueled by Thomas Flack or Sel Narby \u2013 St. Michael\u2019s, 5-4<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Nichols @ No. 14 Endicott<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Gulls wins over Nichols in the regular season were part of the Bison 0-9-0 start to the season. Endicott will not be seeing the same team this time around as Nichols has been rolling and knocked off Salve Regina in overtime to earn the semifinal game. Playoffs come down to goaltending and Conor O\u2019Brien could be the difference for the home team.\u2013 Endicott, 2-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Wentworth @ No. 7 University of New England<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Nor\u2019easters took the regular season series 2-0-0 but now face a very hot goaltender in Connor Carbo whose 51 saves on Wednesday took out Curry in the first round. UNE won\u2019t be surprised by the Leopards and will look to set the tone early by scoring first and moving on to hosting the title game\u2013 UNE, 4-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Worcester State @ Massachusetts-Dartmouth<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Corsairs went 2-1-0 against the Lancers and outscored Worcester State 10-5 in the two wins. They earned the No. 3 seed with a win on Tuesday and won\u2019t waste that effort by earning the all-important playoff win by a goal \u2013 UMD, 3-2<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Salem State @ Westfield State<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Owls will need Daniel Backstrom, Francois-Xavier Girard and Jake Ratcliffe to bring the \u201cA\u201d game in order to win and advance against a Vikings team that has struggled this season putting wins together but will be ready to go on Saturday and looking to surprise the Owls \u2013 Salem State, 4-3<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Southern Maine @ No. 1 Norwich<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Huskies upset Babson last week but now face a potent Cadet squad that hasn\u2019t surrendered a goal in seven consecutive games. Tom Aubrun and company make it eight in a row and earn a shot to defend their NEHC championship \u2013 Norwich, 4-0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

New England College @ No. 5 Hobart<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Pilgrims may have flown below the radar screen for many but coach Mark Taylor will make sure the Statesmen are ready for the potent offense from Carlos Fornaris and Nikita Pintusov. Third period decides this one for the home team \u2013 Hobart, 4-3<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Plattsburgh @ Oswego<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Cardinals and Lakers are both on four-game win streaks following Plattsburgh\u2019s double overtime win at Brockport on Wednesday. Compressor issues at Oswego\u2019s Marano Campus Center Arena have moved the game from the current Saturday schedule to next Tuesday which means both teams will be well rested and ready for a great rivalry game\u2013 Oswego, 3-2<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Potsdam @ No. 2 Geneseo<\/strong> <\/em>
\nThe Bears showed resilience in downing Buffalo State on Wednesday night and opened the season with Geneseo, playing to a 2-2 tie at home. They now move to the lion\u2019s den where the Knights have lost only once at home with a driven group of seniors looking to play for another SUNYAC title. \u2013 Geneseo, 4-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Wesleyan @ Middlebury<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe two teams split the regular season series with each team winning on the road. The Panthers are coming off two big momentum building wins over Amherst and Hamilton on the final weekend to take the final home-ice seed. They don\u2019t waste the effort in a game that goes to overtime \u2013 Middlebury, 3-2<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Connecticut College @ No. 12 Williams<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Ephs won both games with the Camels in the regular season by identical 3-1 scores. The battle to earn the top spot will have kept Williams very sharp against the No. 8 seed but an empty-net goal Is needed for the final, and more comfortable margin \u2013 Williams, 3-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Amherst @ No. 7 Trinity<\/strong> <\/em>
\nThe Bantams and Mammoths faced-off in the title game last spring but don\u2019t expect any less intensity in the quarterfinal round this year. The teams split the regular season matchups with 2-1 wins going to the road team. Home-ice should make a difference and it does, barely for the Bantams \u2013 Trinity, 2-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Bowdoin @ Hamilton<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Continentals and Polar Bears split the regular season games with each winning on home ice. Look for Nick Ursitti or Jordi Jefferson to score a big goal and move the home team on to the semifinal round \u2013 Hamilton, 3-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Nazareth @ No. 3 Utica<\/strong><\/em>
\nThe Pioneers have been the hunters the whole second-half of the season in chasing down the top spot in the UCHC standings. Not likely that they stumble here against an upset minded Nazareth club with Gianluca Baggetta in the crease \u2013 Utica, 3-2 & 4-1<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

It\u2019s now or never for teams to play their best brand of hockey in pursuit of championship glory – \u201cDrop the Puck!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It is a quick turnaround for many teams entering the playoffs and the final push towards a conference championship. Upsets abounded last weekend and already this week with Nazareth, Wentworth and Potsdam all taking out higher seeds in conference tournament play. Now is a time where the cream needs to rise to the top in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":104677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[934],"tags":[820],"coauthors":[822],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCollege hockey game picks, D-III East: February 28, 2020 - College Hockey | USCHO.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It is a quick turnaround for many teams entering the playoffs and the final push towards a conference championship. 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