A .500 week at 2-2 has me still in a pretty good spot as the season starts to wind down. Hockey East playoffs will begin play in games in just a few short weeks and before we know the NCAA Tournament will be here. The Maine Black Bears host Merrimack this weekend for senior weekend at the Alfond. Also I will pick both games at Schneider Arena this weekend as Notre Dame travels in to play the Providence College Friars.
Last week: 2-2-0 Season record: 42-20-10
Last week’s results:
Friday, February 12th
Notre Dame 4, Maine 1 correct pick
Denver 6, North Dakota 4 incorrect pick
Saturday, February 13th
Notre Dame 5, Maine 1 correct pick
Providence 3, UConn 2 incorrect pick
This week’s games:
Merrimack (8-15-7, 2-9-7 Hockey East) at Maine (7-19-6, 4-12-2 Hockey East)
The Warriors and Black Bears still both alive to try and get home ice for the play in round of the Hockey East playoffs so some important points up for grabs at the Alfond this weekend. The top eight get the home ice and Maine sits three points out of eighth while Merrimack is just two points out. Maine has been swept back to back weekends by Providence and Notre Dame being outscored 14-5. Merrimack lost on the road to Boston College 6-3 before tying the Eagles 5-5 at home last Saturday.
The pick- We all want the seniors to win their final home games but right now it isn’t in the cards for the Bears at least not on Friday. Merrimack 3, Maine 2
#7 Notre Dame (18-5-7, 14-2-2 Hockey East) at #5 Providence (21-5-4, 12-3-3 Hockey East)
Both teams are battling for the top spot in the Hockey East standings as the Irish and Friars open a weekend series at Schneider Arena. Both teams are red hot as the Irish have won nine of their last 11 games while Providence has won eight of 10. Irish comes in off an impressive home sweep over Maine while Providence swept a home and home with the UConn Huskies.
The pick- The Irish take game 1. Notre Dame 4, Providence 2
Saturday, February 20th
Merrimack at Maine
The senior play their final regular season home game as the Warriors and Black Bears wrap up the weekend.
The pick- Maine will play inspired hockey and take two points out of the weekend. Maine 4, Merrimack 3
Notre Dame at Providence
The Irish and Friars will meet again possibly at TD Garden in the Hockey East semifinals or finals. Both really good teams and difficult to pick a winner.
The pick- The Friars salvage a split. Providence 3, Notre Dame 1
