Both Nicole and I struggled a little last week, as I went 22-11-3 (.652) and Nicole went 20-13-3 (.597). I usually try to stay above .700, which is where I am on the season. I did pad my lead in our picks race now though, as I am 248-89-40 (.710) while Nicole is 218-119-40 (.631).

Friday, Jan. 20

No. 10 Cornell at No. 3 Clarkson
Candace: The Big red will keep it close, but it won’t be enough. Clarkson 4-2
Nicole: The Big Red haven’t lost in their last five chances, but Clarkson hasn’t lost since playing Wisconsin in October. Additionally, Clarkson is averaging nearly four goals scored a game. That’s going to be difficult to overcome. Clarkson 4-2

Colgate at No. 5 St. Lawrence
Candace: Colgate’s free-fall will continue this weekend. St. Lawrence 3-1
Nicole: The back-loaded strength of schedule is going to bite Colgate some more, I think. St. Lawrence 3-1

Harvard at Brown
Candace: Harvard finally won another game on Tuesday. I think the Crimson will get another here. Harvard 2-1
Nicole: Despite their similar records, Brown’s only wins are over Union, so I have to pick the Crimson’s potential here. Harvard 3-1

Dartmouth at Yale
Candace: I keep expecting Yale to make a better push to solidify a playoff position. A win here would do that. Yale 2-1
Nicole: Picking the home team because I have no other ideas. Yale 3-1

No. 8 Quinnipiac at Merrimack
Candace: Merrimack doesn’t have enough weapons to defeat the Bobcats. Quinnipiac 3-1
Nicole: Bobcats rebound with a win. Quinnipiac 4-1

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 20-21

Syracuse at Lindenwood
Candace: The Lions have been playing well of late, but I like the Orange to make a push and perhaps surpass Robert Morris soon. Syracuse 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: The Orange should have both the offensive and defensive strength to handle the Lions and leave St. Charles with a sweep. Syracuse 3-1, 4-2

Robert Morris at Mercyhurst
Candace: Will Robert Morris be able to hold off Syracuse in the CHA race? Possibly, but that series next weekend could decide if a split happens. Mercyhurst 2-1, Robert Morris 3-2
Nicole: I won’t be at all surprised if this is a split, but I have to pick the more consistent conference leaders in the Colonials. They sweep. Robert Morris 3-0, 2-1

Rensselaer vs. Union (home-and-home)
Candace: Rensselaer looked good last weekend, so I’ll stick with the Engineers. Rensselaer 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: This is a toss up for me, but I’ll pick RPI and their better record. Rensselaer 2-1, 3-1

Northeastern at Connecticut
Candace: I’ve expected more out of Northeastern this season, but losing Kendall Coyne was probably too much. Still, I like a sweep here for the visiting team. Northeastern 2-1, 3-1
Nicole: I expect Northeastern to bounce back this weekend with a sweep of the Huskies. Northeastern 3-1, 3-0

Maine at New Hampshire
Candace: The Black Bears haven’t won on the road all year. That has to happen at some point. Why not this weekend? New Hampshire 2-1, Maine 2-1
Nicole: This should be a win for New Hampshire at home. New Hampshire 4-2, 2-1

No. 6 Boston College at Vermont
Candace: Hockey East is currently Boston College and everyone else. Vermont will make it close, but I like the Eagles to sweep. Boston College 2-1, 3-1
Nicole: I’m probably a bit on the bandwagon, especially after talking to Vermont coach Jim Plumer this week, but I think the Catamounts might be able to steal a game this weekend. I’ll call a split, with BC winning the first game and Vermont winning the second game. Boston College 3-1, Vermont 4-3

No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth at Bemidji State
Candace: If the Bulldogs can avoid a letdown after the huge sweep against Minnesota last weekend, I like them to sweep the Beavers. Minnesota-Duluth 3-2, 3-0
Nicole: The Bulldogs are riding a huge confidence boost from last weekend. I don’t think Bemidji can overcome that. Minnesota-Duluth 4-2, 3-0

Minnesota State at St. Cloud State
Candace: Janine Alder will make the difference in this series, and home ice will help. St. Cloud 2-0, 2-1
Nicole: I think this is another place the Mavericks can add to their win total. Calling a split with SCSU winning on Friday and Minnesota State winning on Saturday. St. Cloud State 3-0, Minnesota State 3-2

Ohio State at No. 4 Minnesota
Candace: I like the Gophers to get back on track at home. Minnesota 3-1, 4-2
Nicole: The Buckeyes have given the Gophers trouble over the years and with Dani Cameranesi out and Kassidy Sauve in goal for OSU, I think a split is possible. Buckeyes win on Friday, Gophers win on Saturday. Ohio State 3-2, Minnesota 5-2

Saturday, Jan. 21

Dartmouth at Brown
Candace: A tough game to pick, but I like the Big Green to steal one. Dartmouth 2-1
Nicole: Dartmouth wins. Dartmouth 3-1

Colgate at No. 3 Clarkson
Candace: Colgate’s difficulties will continue in this game. Clarkson 4-2
Nicole: The Golden Knights have too much offensive power Colgate. Clarkson 5-2.

No. 10 Cornell at No. 5 St. Lawrence
Candace: For now, I think St. Lawrence is a clear second in the ECAC, and will emerge with a win. St. Lawrence 2-1
Nicole: Even with Cornell’s surge, I think the Saints are just that little bit better. St. Lawrence 3-1

Harvard at Yale
Candace: Usually, this would be a slam dunk for Harvard, but not this year. Yale 2-1
Nicole: I’ll take Yale at home. Yale 3-1

Saturday-Sunday, Jan. 21-22

RIT at Penn State
Candace: Can Penn State win its first game since November? I like them to get one. Penn State 2-1, RIT 2-1
Nicole: Penn State hasn’t won in their past 11 games and they only have a single win at home. With that in mind, I have to pick a split. Penn State wins the first game, RIT gets the second. Penn State 3-1, RIT 2-0

Boston University vs. Providence (home-and-home)
Candace: Perhaps I expect too much of the Terriers, but they did beat Minnesota, so I’ll go with them to sweep. Boston University 4-1, 3-2
Nicole: These two seem fairly evenly matched. Each team wins at home. Boston University 4-2, Providence 2-1

North Dakota at No. 1 Wisconsin
Candace: The Badgers are at home and frankly, are better than just about everyone else. Wisconsin 3-1, 4-1
Nicole: I actually think Wisconsin wins this on the blue line. They are just too strong on defense and with Desbiens in the net. Wisconsin 1-0, 5-1

No. 10 Augsburg at Concordia (Minn.)
These two are tied atop the MIAC with 14 points. It’ll be an interesting matchup between Augsburg’s stingy defense and Concordia’s more prolific offense. Augsburg goalie Rebecca Sonek is third in the country and probably gives them the edge. Auggies sweep. Augsburg 2-0, 2-1

Massachusetts-Boston at No. 3 Norwich
Norwich has had their way with pretty much everyone this season, but Mass.-Boston has similar numbers on both team offense and defense. The Cadets have only lost to Plattsburgh this year, so it’s probably unwise to pick against them. Norwich 5-3

Williams at Connecticut College
Williams is atop the NESCAC while Connecticut College sits two points behind, making this a big series for these two. Williams seems to score a single goal or score in bunches. They’re coming up against Connecticut College’s Katherine Chester, whose .956 save percentage is fifth in the country. I have to pick the Camels at home to sweep. Connecticut College 3-0, 2-1

No. 6Middlebury at Bowdoin
Middlebury hasn’t lost in its past seven games dating back to December 2. Bowdoin has lost four of its last five. Both teams rely heavily on their defense. The Polar Bears currently sit in the bottom half of the conference, though they’re just five points out of first. They need to make up some ground to give them home ice in the conference tournament. I’d like to think being at home and motivated for conference points would push Bowdoin, but I can’t pick against Middlebury with the run they’re on. Panthers sweep. Middlebury 3-1, 4-2

No. 5 Elmira at No. 8 Amherst
The only meeting of ranked teams this week, this one could come down to special teams. Amherst has allowed just two extra-attacker goals while Elmira has let in just three. Whichever team can be successful on the power play should be able to walk out with the win. Elmira has actually been more successful on the road and has the higher rank, so they get the benefit of the doubt. Elmira 4-3

Matthew and I both did pretty terrible last week, but thanks to North Dakota, I got another game on him in our picks race. Last week, I went a dismal 3-5 (.375), while Matthew went 2-6 (.250). On the year, I am now 63-46-18 (.567) while Matthew is 52-57-18 (.480). Hey, at least I’m picking better than .500!

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 20-21

No. 2 Denver at St. Cloud State
Candace: St. Cloud showed signs of waking up last weekend against Minnesota-Duluth, and is at home, but every time I think the Huskies are going to break out, they lose, so … Denver 3-2, 3-2
Matthew: St. Cloud needs to get a move on, but I don’t know if it happens against Denver. I’ll take the Pioneers to sweep on the road. Denver 3-2, 3-2

No. 4 Minnesota-Duluth at No. 8 North Dakota
Candace: The Hawks should be extra motivated since the Bulldogs swept them in Duluth back in November. However, I don’t think North Dakota can return the favor. However, I’ll probably get the split dates wrong. North Dakota 4-2, Minnesota-Duluth 3-2
Matthew: This ought to be a terrific series that, to me, has “split” written all over it. Watch this pick turn out wrong, though. That happens with me sometimes. (A lot of the time.) North Dakota 3-1, Minnesota-Duluth 3-1

Miami at No. 19 Omaha
Candace: Omaha is back at home, which means they’ll probably get swept. Every time I think I have a handle on either of these teams I’m wrong. Omaha swept the last time they played, if that means anything, but it was in the middle of Miami’s moribund November. I’ll take a rider on a split. Omaha 3-2, Miami 2-1
Matthew: I’m not really sure how Miami isn’t ranked, given the way they’ve been playing in recent weeks. I don’t know if UNO gets swept here but the RedHawks will get something. Omaha 3-2, Miami 3-1

Colorado College at No. 13 Western Michigan
Candace: While the Tigers have been better on the road, to me Western Michigan has been one of the better teams in the conference, and frankly should be in the top 10 in the polls, but what do I know? Western Michigan 3-1, 3-2
Matthew: CC is so much better on the road this season than the Tigers have been at home, and I sort of want to give them some love here. Maybe a bit of a leap, but I’ll take a split. Colorado College 3-2, Western Michigan 4-1