Hockey East picks: 10/25-10/27

Plenty of games threw me off last week, though Dave was only one game better thus leaving us tied after two weeks.

Dave last week: 10-6-1
Jim last week: 9-7-1
Dave’s record-to-date: 25-9-2
Jim’s record-to-date: 25-9-2

Friday, October 25

Massachusetts at Maine (non-conf.)
Jim’s pick: Both teams are coming off wins but UMass has been a little more impressive thus far. I’m going with the Minutemen.
UMass 3, Maine 2
Dave’s pick: Agreed. UMass impressed me even in their season-opening loss to BU.
UMass 3, Maine 2

Massachusetts-Lowell at Michigan State
Jim’s pick: The River Hawks have stumbled out of the gate but so, too, have the Spartans.
UML 5, MSU 3
Dave’s pick: Agreed again. It’s time for the River Hawks to get moving before they dig too big a hole.
UML 3, MSU 2

Miami at Providence
Jim’s pick: This is one of many great games this weekend. And while I feel this is a split, not sure which team will win which night.
PC 4, MU 2
Dave’s pick: I’m a believer in the Friars and this game is at home, but I like Miami just a little more.
MU 3, PC 2 (OT)

Northeastern at St. Lawrence
Jim’s pick: I’m going with the Huskies here based on their offensive success to date.
NU 4, SLU 3
Dave’s pick: I’m remaining skeptical about Northeastern for one more week.
SLU 4, NU 3

Boston University at Michigan
Jim’s pick: BU has done some good things but Michigan is pretty hot out of the gate.
UM 4, BU 2
Dave’s pick: BU’s win over Wisconsin was tempered by the loss to Rensselaer. Michigan has been too strong and is at home.
UM 3, BU 1

Boston College at Minnesota
Jim’s pick: BC may not win both games but I have to believe they’ll want some revenge for last year’s 8-1 loss at Minnesota.
BC 5, UM 3

Dave’s pick: I’m loathe to pick against BC, but Minnesota is operating on all cylinders and will be enjoying a huge home-ice advantage.
UM 4, BC 2

Notre Dame at Minnesota-Duluth
Jim’s pick: Notre Dame is playing really well and, despite a tough road environment, I think the Irish will win.
UND 4, UMD 2

Dave’s pick: Agreed.  It’s hard to pick against the Irish right now.
UND 3, UMD 2

Saturday, October 26

Army at Merrimack
Jim’s pick: The Warriors lost to one AHA team. Don’t see it happening again.
MC 3, Army 1
Dave’s pick: Merrimack has started slow, but I’m still a believer.
MC 4, Army 2

Massachusetts at Maine (non-conf.)
Jim’s pick: Part of me wants to call a sweep here for UMass but I feel like the Black Bears can pull one out.
Maine 3, UMass 2
Dave’s pick: I was about to call this a UMass sweep until I factored in the effect of the Alfond crowd. On neutral ice, I’d like the Minutemen, but this one goes to the Maine-iacs.
Maine 3, UMass 2 (OT)

Boston University at Michigan State
Jim’s pick: BU gets back to the win column against the Spartans.
BU 5, MSU 2
Dave’s pick: Is it pick on the Spartans time? Yes, as a matter of fact, it is.
BU 4, MSU 2

Miami at Providence
Jim’s pick: RedHawks earn the road split.
MU 3, PC 1
Dave’s pick: I wish it weren’t the case, but I’m seeing a RedHawks sweep.
MU 3, PC 2

Vermont vs. Penn State (at Philadelphia)
Jim’s pick: As I’ve said a few times, I expect Vermont to be a decent team and a win against Penn State should be expected.
UVM 5, PSU 3
Dave’s pick: I’ve got low expectations for Penn State in its first year with the big boys.
UVM 4, PSU 1

New Hampshire at Rensselaer
Jim’s pick: I know I called RPI over-rated last week and was proven wrong when they beat BU, but I think UNH, even on the road, is the better team here.
UNH 4, RPI 2
Dave’s pick: After watching UNH dominate Michigan and come away with only a tie last Friday night, I believe the Wildcats are much better than their record.
UNH 3, RPI 2

Northeastern at St. Lawrence
Jim’s pick: I’m expecting the Larries to come back with a victory to earn the split.
SLU 4, NU 1
Dave’s pick: My lingering Husky skepticism points to an SLU sweep.
SLU 3, NU 1

Massachusetts-Lowell at Michigan
Jim’s pick: Lowell needs a few wins to offset early losses but Michigan on the road is the wrong opponent to get those wins.
UM 3, UML 1
Dave’s pick: I might see a different result mid-season and on neutral ice, but this one goes to the Wolverines.
UM 3, UML 2

Notre Dame at Minnesota-Duluth
Jim’s pick: Irish complete a big road sweep.
UND 3, UMD 2

Dave’s pick: With a sweep, the Irish could become the nation’s number one team, if BC cooperates and takes Minnesota down a peg.
UND 4, UMD 3

Sunday, October 27

Boston College at Minnesota
Jim’s pick: I really want to pick a sweep here for the Eagles but the No. 1 team in the nation will get two points from a hungry BC team at home.
UM 3, BC 2
Dave’s pick: It’s been a long time since I picked BC to get swept on a weekend, but the combination of a very tough foe and a very tough crowd combines for that pick.
UM 3, BC 2 (OT)