Weekend picks: Feb. 17

Both Nicole and I did well last weekend. I went 23-6-5 (.750), while she went 22-7-5 (.720). On the year, I have done well, going 337-109-60 (.725), while Nicole is 300-146-60 (.652)

Friday, Feb. 17

No. 3 Clarkson at Colgate
Candace: The Raiders really need this win, but I think Clarkson has too much offense. Clarkson 3-2
Nicole: Colgate is just barely holding on to home ice for the conference tournament, is at home, and lost just 2-1 to Clarkson earlier in the season. I have to pick them here as they’ve got all the motivation. Colgate 3-2

No. 5 St. Lawrence at No. 7 Cornell
Candace: Cornell has been a surprise this season, but I think St. Lawrence is too strong. St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: I have to pick the Saints here — they won convincingly the first time around. St. Lawrence 4-2

Brown at Dartmouth
Candace: Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Home ice. Dartmouth 3-2
Nicole: This one’s a toss-up, so I’ll pick the home team. Dartmouth 2-0

Yale at Harvard
Candace: Home ice won’t be enough for the Crimson. Yale 3-2
Nicole: Yale won the first time around, so I have to give them the benefit here and think they’ll do it again. Yale 3-1

Union at No. 9 Princeton
Candace: The Tigers will sweep this weekend to get home ice. Princeton 3-1
Nicole: Princeton is looking to gain ground on Colgate and get home ice for the playoffs and they’ve got the more favorable matchups. Princeton 5-1

Rensselaer at No. 10 Quinnipiac
Candace: Rensselaer has the talent to trouble the Bobcats, but they’ll fall short. Quinnipiac 3-2
Nicole: Quinnipiac should win this one, especially at home. Quinnipiac 4-2

Northeastern at Boston University
Candace: I don’t see Northeastern sweeping the season series on the Terriers’ home ice. Boston University 3-2
Nicole: Northeastern is coming off the win against BC and has two wins over BU already this season. I’ll take them here. Northeastern 5-3

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18

Lindenwood at Mercyhurst
Candace: Hard to bet against the Lakers, even with their inconsistency. Mercyhurst 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: I expect Mercyhurst to close out the season with a sweep at home. Mercyhurst 3-1, 4-2

Syracuse at RIT
Candace: The sweep will be too little for the Orange to overtake Robert Morris. Syracuse 4-2, 3-2
Nicole: The Orange should also close out with a sweep. Syracuse 4-1, 3-1

Penn State at No. 8 Robert Morris
Candace: A final weekend sweep in the CHA. Robert Morris 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: Might be tempting fate to pick all sweeps in the CHA, but I expect the Colonials to head into the postseason with two wins. Robert Morris 2-0, 4-2

New Hampshire at Connecticut
Candace: This is likely a split, but I have a hard time seeing which day, and UConn is at home, so … Connecticut 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: UConn took the first meeting between these two in OT. They have the exact same conference record. I can’t do anything but pick a split. New Hampshire 4-2, Connecticut 3-2

Merrimack at Vermont
Candace: Desperation might get Merrimack a win, but I’m picking the Catamounts. Vermont 2-1, 3-2
Nicole: Vermont won 2-1 in OT the only other time these two played. These are games Vermont needs to get home ice. Merrimack is playing for their life, needing to pick up a point on Maine to make the postseason. Goodness knows I love an underdog, so I have to pick a split and hope for Merrimack to earn a postseason berth in their second D-I season. Vermont 4-1, Merrimack 3-2

Minnesota State at Bemidji State
Candace: I think both games are going to be close, but I like the Beavers to sweep. Bemidji State 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: It’s Bemidji’s senior weekend, so I have to think the emotions of the Beavers carry them to the sweep. Bemidji State 3-2, 4-1

St. Cloud at No. 2 Minnesota Duluth
Candace: St. Cloud could really use a win here, but that desperation probably won’t be enough. Minnesota Duluth 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: UMD will be getting Lara Stalder and Katerina Mrázová back, but could still be down a few players to injury. Even still, they’ve got a lot to prove after last weekend at Wisconsin and I expect them to sweep. Minnesota Duluth 4-2, 4-1

Ohio State at North Dakota
Candace: It’s so hard to pick Ohio State games, but I think being at home gets North Dakota the sweep. North Dakota 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: Ohio State got a tie earlier in the season, but I think NoDak sweeps this at home. North Dakota 2-1, 3-0

Saturday, Feb. 18

No. 5 St. Lawrence at Colgate
Candace: Home ice won’t get the Raiders the win against one of the more explosive teams in the ECAC. St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: I’ve got some faith in Colgate, but I’m not sure they can sweep both Clarkson and St. Lawrence this weekend. The Raiders won this meeting earlier in the season, so I think the Saints get the revenge here. St. Lawrence 3-2

No. 3 Clarkson at No. 7 Cornell
Candace: The Big Red are home, and that will make this a tough one, but I’m picking the Golden Knights. Clarkson 3-2
Nicole: I think this is Clarkson’s game to win. Clarkson 4-2.

Yale at Dartmouth
Candace: Dartmouth surprised me by beating Rensselaer last weekend, but I don’t think they take this. Yale 3-2
Nicole: This should be a win for the Bulldogs. Yale 3-1

Brown at Harvard
Candace: Even in a down year, I see this game as Harvard’s to lose. Harvard 3-2
Nicole: I’ll pick the Crimson to close out the regular season with a win. Harvard 3-1

Rensselaer at No. 9 Princeton
Candace: Princeton needs the win for home ice. They get it. Princeton 4-2
Nicole: Should be a win for the Tigers. Princeton 5-2

Union at No. 10 Quinnipiac
Candace: The Dutchwomen got a few good wins this season, but they won’t end their season with one. Quinnipiac 3-1
Nicole: Quinnipiac takes this. Quinnipiac 4-2

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 18-19

Providence vs. No. 6 Boston College (home-and-home)
Candace: I think Boston College will win, but at least one game might be close. Boston College 4-1, 3-1
Nicole: Should be a sweep for the Eagles. Boston College 6-2, 5-1

No. 1 Wisconsin at No. 4 Minnesota
Candace: I think this is likely a split. Hard to pick the order though. Minnesota 3-2, Wisconsin 4-2
Nicole: I don’t see a way to pick anything other than a split here. I think best case scenario for Wisconsin is to get a tie in addition to a win. I’ll pick Wisconsin on Saturday and Minnesota on Sunday. Wisconsin 4-2, Minnesota 5-4

Sunday, Feb. 19

Maine at Boston University
Candace: Maine needs the win, but they are on the road, so it might not be enough. Boston University 4-2
Nicole: This is pretty much must-win for Maine and they have a win over BU earlier in the season. I’ll give them the win. Maine 3-1