Last week:
Dan: 5-4-1
Chris: 7-2-1
On the season:
Dan: 78-64-22 (.543)
Chris: 89-53-22 (.610)
This Week’s Picks
Friday, February 2 and Saturday, February 3
Robert Morris at Sacred Heart
Chris: We’ve got a brunch game (10:35 on Friday) and a matinee (2:05 on Saturday). Despite Sacred Heart coming in on a modest winning streak, I think Robert Morris takes these games. Robert Morris sweeps.
Dan: Sacred Heart has never beaten Robert Morris, having tied only once in the 21 prior meetings. That said, the series is still tighter than would be anticipated. When the two teams closed last year’s regular season, SHU lost by only one goal, its fourth one-goal loss in the last six games. RMU sweeps.
Niagara at Army West Point
Chris: Niagara is just 2-6-1 since the calendar turned to 2018, but all but one of those losses were close games. Speaking of close games, Army West Point has three ties in its last six games (2-1-3). I think these games will also be close, but I like the home team to come out on top. Army West Point sweeps.
Dan: Army is starting to pick up some steam, having lost only once in its last six. In contrast, Niagara has been fighting things in the second half of the season. So this series is an interesting cross section of Atlantic Hockey. I think the Black Knights hold serve on home ice. Army West Point sweeps.
Bentley at Rochester Institute of Technology
Chris: The Falcons have just one win since Dec. 9, but it was their most recent game, a 3-2 victory over first-place Canisius. In two-game series since Thanksgiving, RIT is 0-6 on Friday and 4-1-1 on Saturday. I’m going with a split with Bentley winning on Friday and RIT on Saturday.
Dan: Bentley and RIT renew the Lerch/Rubin (or Rubin/Lerch, depending on your perspective) Classic this weekend. Having split four games each of the last two seasons, the road team’s been markedly more successful. So I think Bentley will pick up a needed two points here, but I don’t see the whole weekend going its way. Bentley wins on Friday. RIT wins on Saturday.
American International at Air Force
Chris: I really want to pick AIC to win one of these games, but my gut tells me that’s not going to happen. Air Force sweeps.
Dan: AIC is proving itself resilient in weekends where we’re still wary of picking them. So I have a hard time believing the Yellow Jackets will be swept in the altitude against a resurgent and healthy Air Force team. AIC wins on Friday. Air Force wins on Saturday.
Holy Cross at Canisius
Chris: This is the series of the weekend with the teams tied for first place. Holy Cross needs this a little more because Canisius has two games in hand on the Crusaders. I’m going with a split, with Canisius winning on Friday and Holy Cross on Saturday.
Dan: The battle for first place in Atlantic Hockey! Canisius hasn’t swept a weekend this entire second half, but they continue to play good hockey. They key here will be the first goal – both teams are undefeated when scoring first in conference play. In an even series, go with what I’m going with: home ice. Canisius sweeps.
Tuesday, February 6
American International at Mass-Lowell
Chris: This is the final non-conference game for the season for AHC teams. It would be great to go out with a win, but I think Lowell comes through at home. Mass-Lowell wins.
Dan: This game falls at an awkward time for UMass-Lowell; three days after the AIC game, the River Hawks play Boston College in their only game of the weekend (BC has the Beanpot the following Monday). And now they simply can’t overlook the Yellow Jackets, who beat Penn State and nearly beat Northeastern. I think they win but not by much. UMass-Lowell wins.
