I bounced back a little after a 1-3 off week to go .500 at 2-2 last weekend. This week the Maine Black Bears head for South Bend, Indiana to battle the #8 Notre Dame Fighting Irish who are battling for the top spot in Hockey East while Maine is battling to try to get into the top 8 for a home play-in series to make the quarterfinals in just a few short weeks. I also highlight some other teams battling for playoff positioning in the NCHC and two teams also battling within Hockey East.
Last week’s record 2-2-0 Season Record 40-18-10
Last week’s results:
Friday, February 5th
#6 Providence 1, Maine 0 overtime incorrect pick
Saturday, February 6th
#6 Providence 4, Maine 2 correct pick
Monday, February 8th
Beanpot consolation game
Northeastern 5, #7 Harvard 1 correct pick
Beanpot championship game
#4 Boston College 1, #9 Boston University 0 overtime incorrect pick
This week’s games:
Friday, February 12th
Maine (7-17-6, 4-10-2 Hockey East) at #8 Notre Dame (16-5-7, 12-2-2 Hockey East)
Maine is coming off a hard fought pair of losses to the defending national champion Providence College Friars including a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss last Friday night in which goalie Matt Morris made 50 saves. Notre Dame comes into the weekend in a first place tie with Boston College in Hockey East with just three weekends of games left in the regular season. Notre Dame swept a pair from Vermont in Burlington last weekend.
The pick- Maine will battle hard as they always do and Morris will keep the Bears in the game but these games mean too much to the Irish and Maine struggles on the road. Notre Dame 4, Maine 2
#2 North Dakota (22-3-3, 13-2-1 NCHC) at #13 Denver (13-8-5, 9-5-2 NCHC)
The #2 Fighting Hawks head to Colorado to visit old friend Jimmy Montgomery and the Pioneers in a big series within the NCHC. North Dakota swept a pair on the road with Western Michigan last weekend while Denver split a series on the road with Miami of Ohio.
The pick- North Dakota has lost only one time in their last 16 games and Denver has been up and down as of late. I will go with the hottest team in this matchup. North Dakota 5, Denver 3
Saturday, February 13th
Maine at #8 Notre Dame
In the second game of the series Maine tries to come up with some points to help them in the standings but unfortunately can’t see it this weekend Black Bear fans. But I have been wrong before.
The pick- Notre Dame completes the sweep in front of the home crowd. Notre Dame 6, Maine 3
#5 Providence (19-5-4, 10-3-3 Hockey East) at Connecticut (9-15-4, 4-8-4 Hockey East)
This is the second night of a home and home series. The Friars have been a little bit up and down since the calendar changed to 2016 but showed great determination in the sweep over Maine at the Alfond last weekend. The Huskies come into the weekend in a four way to tie for sixth place in the conference as every point is crucial to get home ice in the play-in round. UConn tied with Merrimack on the road last Saturday.
The pick- UConn has played every opponent very tough in Hockey East this year and with points at a premium I like the Huskies to get this one on what will probably end as a split with the Friars this weekend. UConn 3, Providence 2
