Hockey East picks – Feb. 11-14

Dave picked up a game on me last week but that’s kind of like saying he climbed the first mile of Mt. Everest.

Dave last week: 8-1-1
Jim last week: 7-2-1
Dave’s record-to-date: 77-29-22 (.688)
Jim’s record-to-date: 89-23-20 (.750)

Here are this week’s picks

Friday, February 11

Vermont at Maine
Jim’s pick: I have a feeling that Vermont might get some points from this weekend, but I still have to pick with my head and not my gut.
Maine 4, UVM 2
Dave’s pick: After last weekend, the Black Bears will be playing with an extra sense of urgency.
Maine 5, UVM 2

Boston College at Providence
Jim’s pick: Eagles continue to roll on the road.
BC 5, PC 2
Dave’s pick: It’s pretty hard to pick against BC these days.
BC 4, PC 1

Boston University at Massachusetts
Jim’s pick: UMass is always trouble for BU, but I think the Terriers pull this one out.
BU 3, UMass 2
Dave’s pick: The Terriers looked awfully good even in defeat against BC last Monday while UMass is coming off an 11-2 shellacking by Merrimack.
BU 4, UMass 1

Northeastern at Massachusetts-Lowell
Jim’s pick: No Beanpot letdown for these Huskies.
NU 3, UML 1
Dave’s pick: I’m not going to make up any ground on Jim by agreeing with him, but unfortunately I do.
NU 3 UML 2

Merrimack at New Hampshire
Jim’s pick: This is the marquee series of the weekend. My thought is home ice will prevail each game.
UNH 4, MC 3
Dave’s pick: The Wildcats need a late third-period goal to tie it and another in overtime for another dramatic win.
UNH 5, MC 4 (OT)

Saturday, February 12

Vermont at Maine
Jim’s pick: Black Bears complete the much-needed sweep.
Maine 2, UVM 1
Dave’s pick: Not even three points on the weekend will be good enough if Maine is going to earn home ice for the playoffs. Maine 4, UVM 2

Providence at UMass
Jim’s pick: Very key game in the battle for the final playoff spots.
UMass 4, PC 2
Dave’s pick: Both teams are coming off lopsided losses last weekend, UMass 11-2 against Merrimack and PC 7-1 against Vermont.  The Friars need the points more, but I think the Minutemen are the better team.  And it doesn’t hurt that they’re at home.
UMass 3, PC 1

New Hampshire at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: Warriors rebound in front of a packed house at Lawler.
MC 5, UNH 3
Dave’s pick: Here’s a desperation pick being made only to make up ground on Jim.  I really think that the Warriors will salvage a split back in their own barn and would usually go with that choice.  But I’ve got to start disagreeing with Jim and here’s where I’ll adopt that stance.
UNH 4 MC 3 (OT) *

Monday, February 14

Boston University vs. Harvard (Beanpot consolation)
Jim’s pick: The Terriers might not win the Beanpot, but they won’t finish fourth, that’s for sure.
BU 4, HU 1
Dave’s pick: It’s not a question of which team wins, only the margin.
BU 52, HU 0

Northeastern vs. Boston College (Beanpot final)
Jim’s pick: Here is my upset of the week. Northeastern ends 23 years of Beanpot futility.
NU 3, BC 2 (OT)
Dave’s pick: The Huskies will give the Eagles a run for their money, but in the end this BC senior class will be able to say it won three Beanpots.  Not since the early sixties have any Eagles been able to make that claim.
BC 4, NU 3 (OT)