Well, here we start with another picks race. We have a new women’s columnist, Nicole Haase, as former columnist Arlan Marttila has moved on. Nicole and I will be picking each week’s games and having a little friendly competition to see who can pick the most games correctly.<\/p>\n
This weeks sees some interesting games, including seven of the top 10 teams in the country.<\/p>\n
Friday-Saturday, Sept. 30-Oct.1<\/strong><\/p>\n Penn State at Clarkson<\/strong> North Dakota at Mercyhurst<\/strong> RIT at Minnesota State<\/strong> St. Lawrence at Northeastern<\/strong> Maine at Quinnipiac<\/strong> Ohio State at Rensselaer<\/strong> Merrimack at St. Cloud<\/strong> Bemidji State at Syracuse<\/strong> Connecticut at Union<\/strong> Boston College at Minnesota-Duluth<\/strong> Lindenwood at Minnesota<\/strong> Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 1-2<\/strong><\/p>\n Robert Morris at Providence<\/strong> New Hampshire at Colgate<\/strong> Tuesday, Oct. 4<\/strong><\/p>\n Vermont at Union<\/strong> Well, here we start with another picks race. We have a new women’s columnist, Nicole Haase, as former columnist Arlan Marttila has moved on. Nicole and I will be picking each week’s games and having a little friendly competition to see who can pick the most games correctly. This weeks sees some interesting games, including […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":140328,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[1425],"tags":[1451,1449,1457,1453,1455],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> Shea Tiley in net and Cayley Mercer on the front line, plus home ice, equals a Clarkson sweep. Clarkson 4-0, 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> I’d really like to see more of Clarkson before I commit to them as a top five team, but if nothing else, they have Shea Tiley. I think this is an easy weekend for them. Clarkson 4-1, 3-0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> This is a tough series to call. Gone are the days when the Lakers had a slew of high-scoring potent forwards to carry them. Home ice might get them a win, especially since North Dakota has a new netminder, but I’ll pick North Dakota to sweep, since I have no idea who wins on what night. North Dakota 2-1, 2-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> This will be a great matchup for the east vs. west debaters. North Dakota has a lot to prove, but I’ll call a split. North Dakota 2-1, Mercyhurst 1-0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Tigers are still rebuilding, and Minnesota State needs all the nonconference wins it can get, since conference wins might be few and far between. Minnesota State 2-1, 2-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> I’m going to side with the Mavericks at home here and pick them to win both. Minnesota State 2-1 and 2-0.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The post-Kendall Coyne Huskies start their season with a tough one. St. Lawrence has not started well in recent years, but I see a split. Northeastern 3-1, St. Lawrence 2-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> I’m going to pick the Saints to pull one out on Northeastern here as the Huskies find their bearings. Northeastern 2-0, St. Lawrence 2-1<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Black Bears don’t have enough to hurt the Bobcats. Quinnipiac 3-0, 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> Quinnipiac should have no problem with the Black Bears. Bobcats win. Quinnipiac 4-1, 3-0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> Both teams lost some to graduation, and the Buckeyes have a new coach to boot. I see a split. Rensselaer 2-1, Ohio State 2-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> It’s been a quick transition for the Buckeyes and they’ve got a lot to figure out, so I’m picking RPI at home in a low scoring affair. Rensselaer 1-0, 1-0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Warrior might get one, but I like the Huskies to sweep. St. Cloud 3-1, 2-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> St. Cloud looked improved against Wisconsin last weekend and Taylor Crosby made a ton of saves. I’m going Huskies. St. Cloud 3-1, 2-0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Orange are one of the favorites in the CHA. I see a split here. Syracuse 3-2, Bemidji State 3-2<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> It’s hard to say what Bemidji looks like after the graduation of nine players. I imagine a split is most likely here, especially with Syracuse at home. Syracuse 3-1, Bemidji State 2-1<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> I don’t have a handle on the Dutchwomen yet, so I’ll pick the Huskies to sweep. Connecticut 2-1, 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> The Huskies don’t give Union a chance to get the elusive win. Connecticut 3-0, 4-1<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Eagles have to replace two all-world scorers that they lost to graduation. The Bulldogs will make this tight, but I’m going on a hunch and picking BC to sweep. Boston College 3-2, 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> UMD has had these dates circled for a long time and know they can make waves with a win or two. I think they take the first one at home and the Eagles edge them in the second game. Minnesota-Duluth 3-2, Boston College 2-1<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> In the past, Nicole Hensley might have kept the Lions in it more. Not this year. Minnesota 4-0, 5-0<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> Gophers win comfortably. Minnesota 5-1 and 4-0.<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Colonials could go a long to way to establishing themselves with a sweep. I think they get it. Robert Morris 2-1, 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> Robert Morris returns most of their roster. I say they sweep. Robert Morris 3-0, 3-1<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> New Hampshire is strong enough to possibly get a win, but I’ll pick the Raiders to sweep. Colgate 2-1, 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> Colgate is looking to be a contender this season and they open up strong. Raiders sweep. Colgate 3-0, 4-1<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCandace:<\/strong> The Catamounts start strong. Vermont 3-1<\/strong>
\nNicole:<\/strong> Catamounts return a ton of scoring and Union has a rookie goalie. Catamounts win. Vermont 4-0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"