Both Nicole and I did well last weekend. I went 23-6-5 (.750), while she went 22-7-5 (.720). On the year, I have done well, going 337-109-60 (.725), while Nicole is 300-146-60 (.652)

Friday, Feb. 17

No. 3 Clarkson at Colgate
Candace: The Raiders really need this win, but I think Clarkson has too much offense. Clarkson 3-2
Nicole: Colgate is just barely holding on to home ice for the conference tournament, is at home, and lost just 2-1 to Clarkson earlier in the season. I have to pick them here as they’ve got all the motivation. Colgate 3-2

No. 5 St. Lawrence at No. 7 Cornell
Candace: Cornell has been a surprise this season, but I think St. Lawrence is too strong. St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: I have to pick the Saints here — they won convincingly the first time around. St. Lawrence 4-2

Brown at Dartmouth
Candace: Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Home ice. Dartmouth 3-2
Nicole: This one’s a toss-up, so I’ll pick the home team. Dartmouth 2-0

Yale at Harvard
Candace: Home ice won’t be enough for the Crimson. Yale 3-2
Nicole: Yale won the first time around, so I have to give them the benefit here and think they’ll do it again. Yale 3-1

Union at No. 9 Princeton
Candace: The Tigers will sweep this weekend to get home ice. Princeton 3-1
Nicole: Princeton is looking to gain ground on Colgate and get home ice for the playoffs and they’ve got the more favorable matchups. Princeton 5-1

Rensselaer at No. 10 Quinnipiac
Candace: Rensselaer has the talent to trouble the Bobcats, but they’ll fall short. Quinnipiac 3-2
Nicole: Quinnipiac should win this one, especially at home. Quinnipiac 4-2

Northeastern at Boston University
Candace: I don’t see Northeastern sweeping the season series on the Terriers’ home ice. Boston University 3-2
Nicole: Northeastern is coming off the win against BC and has two wins over BU already this season. I’ll take them here. Northeastern 5-3

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18

Lindenwood at Mercyhurst
Candace: Hard to bet against the Lakers, even with their inconsistency. Mercyhurst 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: I expect Mercyhurst to close out the season with a sweep at home. Mercyhurst 3-1, 4-2

Syracuse at RIT
Candace: The sweep will be too little for the Orange to overtake Robert Morris. Syracuse 4-2, 3-2
Nicole: The Orange should also close out with a sweep. Syracuse 4-1, 3-1

Penn State at No. 8 Robert Morris
Candace: A final weekend sweep in the CHA. Robert Morris 3-1, 3-1
Nicole: Might be tempting fate to pick all sweeps in the CHA, but I expect the Colonials to head into the postseason with two wins. Robert Morris 2-0, 4-2

New Hampshire at Connecticut
Candace: This is likely a split, but I have a hard time seeing which day, and UConn is at home, so … Connecticut 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: UConn took the first meeting between these two in OT. They have the exact same conference record. I can’t do anything but pick a split. New Hampshire 4-2, Connecticut 3-2

Merrimack at Vermont
Candace: Desperation might get Merrimack a win, but I’m picking the Catamounts. Vermont 2-1, 3-2
Nicole: Vermont won 2-1 in OT the only other time these two played. These are games Vermont needs to get home ice. Merrimack is playing for their life, needing to pick up a point on Maine to make the postseason. Goodness knows I love an underdog, so I have to pick a split and hope for Merrimack to earn a postseason berth in their second D-I season. Vermont 4-1, Merrimack 3-2

Minnesota State at Bemidji State
Candace: I think both games are going to be close, but I like the Beavers to sweep. Bemidji State 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: It’s Bemidji’s senior weekend, so I have to think the emotions of the Beavers carry them to the sweep. Bemidji State 3-2, 4-1

St. Cloud at No. 2 Minnesota Duluth
Candace: St. Cloud could really use a win here, but that desperation probably won’t be enough. Minnesota Duluth 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: UMD will be getting Lara Stalder and Katerina Mrázová back, but could still be down a few players to injury. Even still, they’ve got a lot to prove after last weekend at Wisconsin and I expect them to sweep. Minnesota Duluth 4-2, 4-1

Ohio State at North Dakota
Candace: It’s so hard to pick Ohio State games, but I think being at home gets North Dakota the sweep. North Dakota 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: Ohio State got a tie earlier in the season, but I think NoDak sweeps this at home. North Dakota 2-1, 3-0

Saturday, Feb. 18

No. 5 St. Lawrence at Colgate
Candace: Home ice won’t get the Raiders the win against one of the more explosive teams in the ECAC. St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: I’ve got some faith in Colgate, but I’m not sure they can sweep both Clarkson and St. Lawrence this weekend. The Raiders won this meeting earlier in the season, so I think the Saints get the revenge here. St. Lawrence 3-2

No. 3 Clarkson at No. 7 Cornell
Candace: The Big Red are home, and that will make this a tough one, but I’m picking the Golden Knights. Clarkson 3-2
Nicole: I think this is Clarkson’s game to win. Clarkson 4-2.

Yale at Dartmouth
Candace: Dartmouth surprised me by beating Rensselaer last weekend, but I don’t think they take this. Yale 3-2
Nicole: This should be a win for the Bulldogs. Yale 3-1

Brown at Harvard
Candace: Even in a down year, I see this game as Harvard’s to lose. Harvard 3-2
Nicole: I’ll pick the Crimson to close out the regular season with a win. Harvard 3-1

Rensselaer at No. 9 Princeton
Candace: Princeton needs the win for home ice. They get it. Princeton 4-2
Nicole: Should be a win for the Tigers. Princeton 5-2

Union at No. 10 Quinnipiac
Candace: The Dutchwomen got a few good wins this season, but they won’t end their season with one. Quinnipiac 3-1
Nicole: Quinnipiac takes this. Quinnipiac 4-2

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 18-19

Providence vs. No. 6 Boston College (home-and-home)
Candace: I think Boston College will win, but at least one game might be close. Boston College 4-1, 3-1
Nicole: Should be a sweep for the Eagles. Boston College 6-2, 5-1

No. 1 Wisconsin at No. 4 Minnesota
Candace: I think this is likely a split. Hard to pick the order though. Minnesota 3-2, Wisconsin 4-2
Nicole: I don’t see a way to pick anything other than a split here. I think best case scenario for Wisconsin is to get a tie in addition to a win. I’ll pick Wisconsin on Saturday and Minnesota on Sunday. Wisconsin 4-2, Minnesota 5-4

Sunday, Feb. 19

Maine at Boston University
Candace: Maine needs the win, but they are on the road, so it might not be enough. Boston University 4-2
Nicole: This is pretty much must-win for Maine and they have a win over BU earlier in the season. I’ll give them the win. Maine 3-1

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 17-18

No. 2 Adrian at No. 6 Lake Forest
Adrian has lost twice this season — both times to Plattsburgh. Lake Forest has also lost twice, and one of those losses came at the hands of Adrian. No one is scoring more goals per game than the Bulldogs. The two teams are tied for team defense, each allowing just 1.43 goals per game. I’m going to pick a split, since Lake Forest is at home. They’ve got one of the best goalies in the country and I like upsets, so I’ll say Lake Forest wins game one and Adrian wins game two. Lake Forest 4-3, Adrian 5-4

No. 8 Hamilton at Connecticut College
These are two of the stingiest defenses in the country; they’re tied for third in the nation, allowing just 1.18 goals per game. They’ve also both got top goaltenders. They’re about as evenly matched as two teams get, so it should be a spectacular series. I don’t see a way to pick anything other than a split. Hamilton 3-2, Connecticut College 2-0

No. 1 Plattsburgh at Buffalo State
Buffalo State stole a win from Oswego last weekend, but I’m not sure they have what it takes to keep up with Plattsburgh. I expect the Cardinals to sweep, but think Buffalo can make it tough for them. Plattsburgh wins both. Plattsburgh 4-2, 5-3

No. 10 Oswego at William Smith
With the split last weekend, Oswego is one point behind Buffalo State and looking to make up that ground. I expect the Lakers to sweep. Oswego 4-2, 4-1

Saturday, Feb. 18

Manhattanville at Massachusetts-Boston
Manhattanville has the more potent offense, but Massachusetts-Boston has the stronger defense. They’re close in the standings and should provide an interesting game. I’ll pick Manhattanville to win. Manhattanville 3-1

I feel like I should retire from the picks game after last weekend, in which I went a perfect 6-0 (.1000). Matthew was right there with me, going 5-1 (.833). On the year, I am now 82-52-21 (596), while Matthew is 67-67-1 (.500).

Once again, only six of the NCHC teams are in action, but this weekend may switch the standings again.

Feb. 17-18

No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth at Colorado College
Candace: The games might be closer simply because Duluth doesn’t have as explosive an offense as Denver, but the results for CC will be the same as last weekend. Minnesota Duluth 3-1, 3-1
Matthew: CC has lost seven of its last eight games, and I don’t think the Tigers get anything here. Minnesota Duluth 3-1, 3-1

No. 2 Denver at Miami
Candace: I feel like I should pick at least one game differently than Matthew, and this is the one. Denver 2-1, 3-1
Matthew: I like Miami to steal a win here, but upsets on back-to-back nights seems unlikely. Miami 3-2, Denver 3-1

No. 13 North Dakota at No. 8 Western Michigan
Candace: Western hasn’t won on a Saturday in a few weeks, so I might as well pick the split like that. Western Michigan 3-2, North Dakota 3-2
Matthew: This should be a really fun series to watch, and I’m having difficulty seeing anything other than a split. I wonder if Western’s trend of getting wins on Fridays and not getting results on Saturdays will continue here. Western Michigan 3-1, North Dakota 3-1