I managed another 3-1-0 week last weekend, and let’s see if I can come up with a perfect weekend. It’s crunch time all around the country with three weeks left in the regular season. Maine heads back out onto the road this weekend after a home sweep last week over UMass. The Providence Friars are red hot and the opponent for the Bears. I also take a look at two other Hockey East matchups.
Last week: 3-1-0 Season record: 37-19-8
Last weeks results:
Fri 1/27
Maine 4 UMass 1 correct
Merrimack 4 BU 1 incorrect
Sat 1/28
Maine 2 UMass 1 correct
BC 6 Notre Dame 4 correct
This weeks games:
Friday, February 3
Maine (10-13-3, 4-9-1 Hockey East) at #15 Providence (14-8-4, 6-6-2) 6 PM start
We all know the story with Maine in road games. Providence is a tough place to play and the Friars are hot right now winning five games in a row, including a road sweep at UNH last weekend and a home and home sweep over UMass-Lowell the weekend before. Maine tries to get itself into position to host a Hockey East play-in round series which would go to the 5-8 seeds. The first four get home ice for the quarterfinals and bypass the play-in round.
The pick- It’s a no brainer for me. Maine is 0-8-3 on the road. This isn’t UMass they are playing either. PROVIDENCE 3 MAINE 1
#12 Vermont (16-8-2, 8-5-1 Hockey East) at #17 Notre Dame (14-9-3, 7-5-2)
Both teams are coming off losses last weekend as Vermont lost 3-1 at UConn and Notre Dame blew a 4-2 lead after two at BC before losing 6-4.
The pick- Something tells me the Catamounts bounce back. No rhyme or reason as both teams have been up and down this year. VERMONT 3, NOTRE DAME 2
Saturday 2/4
Maine at Providence 7 p.m.
Isn’t much to say about the series. Providence owns Maine head to head the last few years expecially at Schneider Arena.
The pick- Friars make it seven in a row and extends Maines road losing streak. PROVIDENCE 4, MAINE 2
UNH (11-11-4, 6-5-3 Hockey East) at #10 UMass-Lowell 15-9-3, 7-7-1)
Two teams struggling quite a bit meet at Tsongas Arena. UNH is winless in five straight entering the weekend (two ties, three losses) and Lowell comes into the weekend with four straight L’s including a 4-2 setback at BU last Saturday. UNH is scheduled to play at BC Friday night while Lowell travels to Northeastern.
The pick- Lowell with far more talent expect maybe in goal but I expect them to right the ship on this night. I take the Riverhawks here. UML 4, UNH 3
