Here’s a look at the games scheduled for this weekend in ECAC Hockey. Highlights include travel partners Cornell and Colgate playing a home-and-home series, while Harvard travels to Clarkson both teams looking to keep their unbeaten streaks intact. All games start at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted.
Last time: 7-2-4
Overall: 42-23-8
Friday, Jan. 19
Rensselaer at Brown
The Bears scored four unanswered goals to win 5-4 in overtime when these teams last met on Dec. 2. Linden Marshall was in net for RPI that night, but the freshman has played better since then. The Bears haven’t won since that last meeting, although Brown has three ties and several narrow losses during its current seven-game winless streak. I think Marshall’s improved play should help the Engineers bounce back from the earlier loss when these teams last met. Rensselaer wins
Harvard at Clarkson
Clarkson’s fourteen-game winning streak is the second longest in Division I, but Harvard is quietly working on a six-game unbeaten streak of its own. If the Golden Knights’ streak is going to come to an end, this could be the game that it happens, but even so, Clarkson hasn’t given me any reason to doubt them. Clarkson wins
Colgate at Cornell
The Big Red have kept on rolling, as Cornell is in the midst of a six-game unbeaten streak, while Colgate is 4-7 since getting off to a hot start to the season. This should be a tight, defensive game, but I think the Big Red have enough talent up front to generate enough offense for the win. Cornell wins
Dartmouth at St. Lawrence
The Saints looked to have some momentum following a 3-0-1 stretch to begin the second half, but were swept last weekend on the road against Rensselaer and Union. Dartmouth is 4-1-1 over its last six games and has scored thirteen goals over its last three games. I’m not sure if the Saints can keep up with that kind of offensive output. Dartmouth wins
Union at Yale
Yale is 5-1-1 over its last seven games, while the Dutchmen have cooled off a bit since a hot stretch back in the fall. The Bulldogs have gotten good goaltending and defensive play lately, and I think that will be the difference Friday night. Yale wins
Quinnipiac at Arizona State, 9:05 EDT
Quinnipiac’s seven-game road trip ends in Arizona, as the Bobcats will play the Sun Devils in a two-game series this weekend. Any chance at an at-large bid is virtually gone, so it will be interesting to see if QU’s coaching staff tries out some different combinations in order to jumpstart the team for the stretch run. Regardless, the Bobcats should get a win in their first ever visit to Arizona State. Quinnipiac wins
Saturday, Jan. 20
Union at Brown
Union used to have its share of troubles against Brown, but the Dutchmen have won three in a row against the Bears and are 7-2-1 in the last ten meetings between the two schools. Both teams are prolific third-period scoring teams, so expect some late goals. Union has a little more scoring depth and I think that will be the difference. Union wins
Dartmouth at Clarkson
Like I said above, the Golden Knights have been playing well lately, and I’ve got no reason to pick against them. Clarkson wins
Harvard at St. Lawrence
After struggling to score for much of the first half, the Saints have averaged more than three goals in the second half. Even so, I’m not sure that they can keep pace with the Crimson, as Ryan Donato is averaging a goal a game this season and Merrick Madsen has returned to form in net. Harvard wins
Rensselaer at Yale
Yale fell to 3-7 after a 2-1 loss at RPI in early December, but the Bulldogs have played well since then. I think that momentum continues Saturday. Yale wins
Cornell at Colgate, 7:30 p.m.
The travel partners conclude their series in Hamilton. The numbers say Cornell should win, but I think the Raiders find a way to win and split the weekend. Colgate wins
Quinnipiac at Arizona State, 9:05 p.m. EDT
The Bobcats entered the weekend with a .500 record since returning from the holiday break, while Arizona State split a home series with UMass-Lowell last weekend. I think both of those trends will carry over into this weekend as the Sun Devils come back for a series split. Arizona State wins
