I am back for a second year of picking the College Hockey games. Last year my predictions were very successful winning 73 of a possible 113 games. (73-30-10). Each week I will predict four games including the Maine Black Bears. This week we will take project two series involving the ECAC and Hockey East.
Friday, October 7
RPI at Maine 7 p.m.
RPI comes of an 18 win season (18-15-7) and a loss in the ECAC playoffs to Harvard. The Black Bears come off a campaign where they went 8-24-6.
The pick: Maine brings in nine freshman with the likes of Chase Pearson and Patrick Shea who expect to make an immediate impact. The Bears should be a fun team to watch. The goaltending and special teams are the most important for this team to have success. I like them on opening night. Maine 4, RPI 2
Northeastern at Quinnipiac 7 p.m.
The Huskies were the nation’s hottest team at the end of the 2015-16 season rolling up 20 wins in their last 24 games before losing to eventual national champs North Dakota in the NCAA regionals. Quinnipiac was the national runner up and expect to be near the top of the polls again this season.
The pick- I like the Bobcats at home on opening night but this series should be closely contested all weekend. Quinnipiac 3, Northeastern 2
Saturday, October 8th
RPI at Maine 7 p.m
Night two at the Alfond with the Bears looking for an early season sweep.
The pick- The “old girl” will be shaking hoping for a Maine sweep but it will be the Engineers who spoil the party and garner the split. RPI 3, Maine 2
Northeastern at Quinnipiac 7 p.m.
The Huskies with try to avoid a bad start like last year on the second night in Emden,Connecticut.
The pick- The Bobcats will start strong in this one to take an early lead but the Huskies are just too good of a team to get swept in this series. Northeastern 5, Quinnipiac 4
