Weekend picks: Feb. 9

I have come close to blowing an eight-game lead I had on Nicole in mid-January. Last week, I went 16-9-2, while Nicole went 19-6-2. On the year, I am 291-109-51 while Nicole is 289-111-51. Hopefully, I can hold her off and not have an epic choke.

Friday, Feb. 9

Brown at No. 4 Colgate
Candace: I don’t see the Raiders losing to Brown. Colgate 4-0
Nicole: Colgate should come away with a win here. Colgate 3-0

Yale at No. 6 Cornell
Candace: Cornell always seems to be on the verge of being upset, but I like the Big Red at home. Cornell 3-2
Nicole: Yale played close games with Clarkson and St. Lawrence last weekend, so Cornell shouldn’t take them lightly. Cornell 2-1

Rensselaer at Dartmouth
Candace: I’m thinking the Engineers will squeak this one out. Rensselaer 2-1
Nicole: I’ll pick Dartmouth at home here. Dartmouth 2-0

Union at Harvard
Candace: Harvard at home after a tough one in the Beanpot. Harvard 3-1
Nicole: Union beat Harvard earlier in the year, but I don’t think they get a repeat. Harvard 3-1

No. 1 Clarkson at Princeton
Candace: I like Clarkson to roll here. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: This should be a win for the top-ranked Golden Knights. Clarkson 4-2

No. 8 St. Lawrence at Quinnipiac
Candace: St. Lawrence seems to beat teams below them in the standings, so … St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: I’ll take St. Lawrence to win. St. Lawrence 3-2

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 9-10

Penn State at Mercyhurst
Candace: Mercyhurst will keep pace in the CHA race. Mercyhurst 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: The Lakers are a better team now and I think they sweep this at home. Mercyhurst 3-1, 2-0

Lindenwood at No. 9 Robert Morris
Candace: Robert Morris sets up an epic series with Mercyhurst the following week. Robert Morris 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: I’ll also take RMU to sweep at home, but wouldn’t be surprised if Lindenwood takes one. Robert Morris 3-2, 4-2

RIT at Syracuse
Candace: RIT is lot what it was when it first joined D-I. Syracuse 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: Syracuse sweeps. Syracuse 2-0, 3-1

Connecticut at Vermont
Candace: This is likely a split, but picking the right night is hard. Vermont 3-2, Connecticut 3-2
Nicole: A split. Vermont wins game one, Connecticut wins game two. Vermont 3-1, Connecticut 2-1

No. 5 Ohio State at Minnesota State
Candace: The Buckeyes won’t have a letdown here. Ohio State 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: This should be all Buckeyes. Ohio State 4-2, 2-0

St. Cloud State at Bemidji State
Candace: Bemidji has been struggling in the second half, and St. Cloud has shown signs of life, but I’m going with home ice. Bemidji State 2-1, 2-1
Nicole: This one is likely to be a split. I’ll take St. Cloud in game one and Bemidji in game two. St. Cloud State 3-2, Bemidji State 1-0

No. 2 Wisconsin at Minnesota Duluth
Candace: The Badgers could drop one of these, but I’m going with them nonetheless. Wisconsin 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: Wisconsin needs these wins and they need something to build on after last week’s results. UMD will push them, but I’ll take the Badgers. Wisconsin 3-1, 4-2

Saturday, Feb. 10

Yale at No. 4 Colgate
Candace: Colgate keeps pace in with Clarkson in the ECAC. Colgate 3-1
Nicole: I’m so tempted to pick a Yale upset this weekend, but I think Colgate is too strong. Colgate 5-3

Brown at No. 6 Cornell
Candace: Cornell will win at home. Cornell 3-1
Nicole: Cornell takes this one. Cornell 4-1

Union at Dartmouth
Candace: I like the Big Green at home. Dartmouth 3-2
Nicole: Union wins this one. Union 3-2

Rensselaer at Harvard
Candace: I like Harvard at home. Harvard 3-1
Nicole: Harvard wins this. Harvard 3-0

No. 8 St. Lawrence at Princeton
Candace: Even on the road, the Saints will prevail in this tough game. St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: This one could be close, but I’ll take the Saints. St. Lawrence 3-2

No. 1 Clarkson at Quinnipiac
Candace: I like the Golden Knights to stay in front in the ECAC. Clarkson 3-1
Nicole: I’m going to pick Quinnipiac here. They took their earlier meeting in overtime and they just seem to have Clarkson’s number. Quinnipiac 4-3

New Hampshire at No. 3 Boston College
Candace: Boston College could look ahead to the Beanpot and have a tough game, but should still win. Boston College 4-2
Nicole: This should be a win for the Eagles. Boston College 5-2

Northeastern at Merrimack
Candace: Merrimack is too inconsistent for me to pick them. Northeastern 3-2
Nicole: I’ll take the Huskies. Northeastern 4-2

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 10-11

No. 9 Maine at Providence
Candace: Both teams have been struggling of late, so this is a hard one to pick. Providence hasn’t won a game since mid-January. Providence 3-2, Maine 3-2
Nicole: Definitely one of the more interesting matchups of the weekend. Maine is one point ahead of Providence in Hockey East Standings. They tied earlier in the season. I’ll pick a split. Providence 3-1, Maine 3-2

Tuesday, Feb. 13

Beanpot

Boston University vs. Boston College
Candace: It won’t be easy, and may even need overtime, but I like BC to take the Beanpot in Katie Burt’s last appearance in the storied tournament. Boston College 4-3
Nicole: I’m a sucker for an underdog story and BU has won just a single Beanpot title –- back in 1981, so I have to pick them to get the upset here. They squeak out a win. Boston University 4-3

Northeastern vs. Harvard
Candace: I like the Huskies in this one, but it will be close. Northeastern 3-2
Nicole: Northeastern wins this one. Northeastern 3-2