Last week: 7-3-1
\nOn the season: 96-62-23 (.593)<\/p>\n
Two first-round byes are still up in the air going into the final weekend of the regular season. All of the series are home-and-home with the obvious exception of Air Force and Robert Morris.<\/p>\n
Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26<\/strong> Sacred Heart vs. Army – The Black Knights need some help but are still in the running for a bye. I’m thinking split, though, which would all but knock them out of contention. Army 3, Sacred Heart 1; Sacred Heart 3, Army 2.<\/p>\n Mercyhurst vs. Canisius – Both of the teams are locked into road first-round playoff games. I’m thinking split again, with the road team(s) coming out on top. Mercyhurst 3, Canisius 2; Canisius 4, Mercyhurst 3.<\/p>\n Bentley vs. Holy Cross – The Crusaders have clinched a first-round bye and can wreck the Falcons’ chances of getting the same. I like the home team(s) in this series. Holy Cross 4, Bentley 2; Bentley 4, Holy Cross 3<\/p>\n Niagara vs. RIT – A few weeks ago, it looked like this series might decide the regular season title, or at least a playoff bye. Instead, both teams are locked into their postseason spots – the Tigers have a bye and the Purple Eagles will host either Mercyhurst or Canisius in the first round. RIT has never beaten Niagara since moving up to Division I, but I think they split. RIT 4, Niagara 3; Niagara 4, RIT 2.<\/p>\n American International vs. Connecticut – UConn needs three points to clinch a playoff bye. If it winds up tied with Army the Huskies get the bye; a tie with Bentley means the Falcons get it. A three way tie goes to the Huskies. I think they take care of business and won’t need the tiebreakers. UConn 4, AIC 1; UConn 3, AIC 1.<\/p>\n The guest analyst for the final week of the regular season is Seth Dussault, radio color commentator for AIC. Here are his unedited picks:<\/p>\n Bentley vs. Holy Cross (2\/25 at HC, 2\/26 at BEN) American Int’l vs. UConn (2\/25 at CON, 2\/26 at AIC) Army vs. Sacred Heart (2\/25 at Army, 2\/26 at SHU) Mercyhurst vs. Canisius (2\/25 at CAN, 2\/26 at MH) Niagara vs. RIT (2\/25 at RIT, 2\/26 at NIA) Robert Morris vs. Air Force (2\/25 at AFA, 2\/26 at AFA) Check back Monday for playoff pairings and to see how Seth and I did<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Last week: 7-3-1 On the season: 96-62-23 (.593) Two first-round byes are still up in the air going into the final weekend of the regular season. All of the series are home-and-home with the obvious exception of Air Force and Robert Morris. Friday, February 25 and Saturday, February 26 Robert Morris at Air Force – […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"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":[1425,934],"tags":[772,1478],"coauthors":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\nRobert Morris at Air Force – This is the most interesting series of the weekend, with teams going head-to-head for a playoff bye. Air Force needs three points to clinch it; so therefore RMU needs two. A split gives it to the Colonials and I think that’s what’s going to happen. RMU 3, Air Force 2; Air Force 4, RMU 2.<\/p>\nGuest Analyst<\/h4>\n
\nThe Crusaders are on fire. Clearly, they are the best team in the East,
\nand I think they’ll continue their winning ways.
\nHoly Cross 5, Bentley 1; Holy Cross 4, Bentley 2.<\/p>\n
\nThe Jackets are desperate to not finish in last place for the first time
\nin a long time. I think that desperation will help them split with the
\nHuskies and finish out of the basement.
\nUConn 3, AIC 1; AIC 4, UConn 1.<\/p>\n
\nThe Pioneers have done well at Harbor Yard, but it won’t translate into
\npoints here, particularly as Army looks to pass UConn.
\nArmy 5, Sacred Heart 1; Army 3, Sacred Heart 0.<\/p>\n
\nThis is a pretty evenly matched series and it will be reflected in the
\nscores, but I think Mercyhurst has the edge in net.
\nMercyhurst 3, Canisius 3 (yes, a tie); Mercyhurst 3, Canisius 2.<\/p>\n
\nThe Purple Eagles have two of the best scorers in the country, but the
\nTigers are the best team in the league, so I expect a split.
\nNiagara 5, RIT 4; RIT 3, Niagara 2.<\/p>\n
\nIt’s hard to win in Colorado, and with a first-round bye on the line,
\nit’ll be impossible.
\nAir Force 3, Robert Morris 1; Air Force 4, Robert Morris 2.<\/p>\n