Picking Duluth to sweep last weekend paid off for me, and I gained another game on Matthew in our picks race, even though I went a miserable 2-4-2 (.375), but Matthew only got one game right, going 1-5-2 (.250). On the year, I am 77-48-19 (.600) while Matthew is 75-50-19 (.586).

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 2-3

No. 9 Minnesota Duluth at No. 4 Denver
Candace: Denver won a pair of one-goal games in Duluth back in December. The Bulldogs have been much better the last five weeks, but I’m leaning toward a Denver sweep. This series will come down to Tanner Jaillet. Denver 3-2, 3-2
Matthew: UMD is .500 on the road,3 and Denver will want to get back to winning ways after tying twice last week. I’ll take Denver to sweep here. (Watch me be wrong.) Denver 4-2, 3-2

No. 15 Western Michigan at Miami
Candace: These two split back in December, and it’s hard to see anything else happening here. Western Michigan 3-2, Miami 3-2
Matthew: We’ve talked all season about how Western Michigan’s much better at home, but I like the Broncos to get at least a split here. Western Michigan 3-1, Miami 3-1

No. 13 Omaha at No. 6 St. Cloud State
Candace: I figure St. Cloud State has to get on track eventually, and this weekend is as good as any. St. Cloud State 4-2, 4-3
Matthew: Omaha has looked great lately aside from its losses at Denver, but I don’t know if the Mavericks will get anything here. St. Cloud State 4-2, 3-2

Over the last month, Nicole has definitely been making a strong push. Last week, I went 23-9-1 (.712) while Nicole went 24-8-1 (.742). On the year, I am holding a slim lead, as I am 275-100-49 (.706) while Nicole is 270-105-49 (.694).

Friday, Feb. 2

No. 4 Colgate at Dartmouth
Candace: Colgate will roll here. Colgate 4-1
Nicole: Colgate should take this. Colgate 4-1

Brown at No. 2 Clarkson
Candace: The Bears are very outmatched. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: This should be a win for the Golden Knights. Clarkson 5-2

No. 5 Cornell at Harvard
Candace: I like Cornell, even if I seem to not be able to pick Harvard games well. Cornell 3-1
Nicole: This may be closer than Cornell would like, but I think they still win. Cornell 3-2

Quinnipiac at Rensselaer
Candace: The Engineers have struggled of late. Quinnipiac 2-1
Nicole: The Bobcats win. Quinnipiac 3-1

Yale at No. 8 St. Lawrence
Candace: This could be a trap game, but I like the home team. St. Lawrence 3-1
Nicole: The Saints need to keep pace and are at home. They should win. St. Lawrence 3-1

Princeton at Union
Candace: The Tigers get closer to the playoffs. Princeton 3-1
Nicole: The Tigers win. Princeton 3-0

Vermont at Boston University
Candace: As long as the Terriers don’t have their eyes on Tuesday, I like them at home. Boston University 4-3
Nicole: The Catamounts have been on a roll and BU have been unsteady at times, so I’ll pick Vermont to win. Vermont 4-3

Merrimack at No. 9 Providence
Candace: It might be closer than the Friars like, but I see them coming out on top. Providence 3-2
Nicole: Providence should take this. Providence 2-0

Northeastern at Connecticut
Candace: Like BU, if the Huskies can avoid looking to Tuesday, I see them winning. Northeastern 3-2
Nicole: UConn is better then their record, but I’ll take the Northeastern Huskies this time. Northeastern 4-2

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 2-3

Bemidji State at Minnesota State
Candace: I lean toward the Beavers to solidify their standing. Bemidji State 3-2, 2-1
Nicole: I’ll call for a split here. Minnesota State 2-1, Bemidji State 3-1

No. 7 Minnesota at St. Cloud State
Candace: The Gophers have been consistently inconsistent, but they are better on the road. Minnesota 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: I’ll call a split here as SCSU kept it close in their first meeting and showed they can hang with Wisconsin last week. St. Cloud State 3-2, Minnesota 3-1

No. 1 Wisconsin at No. 6 Ohio State
Candace: I think the Badgers are too strong, even if Ohio State is the second-best team in the conference. Wisconsin 3-2, 4-2
Nicole: I’m thinking this might be a split. Ohio State won’t be happy with how their first meeting went. Wisconsin 4-2, Ohio State 4-3

Saturday, Feb. 3

Yale at No. 2 Clarkson
Candace: Clarkson should prevail here. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: Clarkson wins. Clarkson 3-1

No. 5 Cornell at Dartmouth
Candace: I like the Big Red to get key conference points. Cornell 3-1
Nicole: Cornell should win this one. Cornell 4-1

No. 4 Colgate at Harvard
Candace: The Raiders are too tough here. Colgate 4-2
Nicole: Colgate takes it. Colgate 3-2

Princeton at Rensselaer
Candace: Princeton needs this weekend for the ECAC playoffs. Princeton 3-2
Nicole: The Tigers should have this one. Princeton 3-1

Brown at No. 8 St. Lawrence
Candace: St. Lawrence doesn’t lose to teams below them. St. Lawrence 3-1
Nicole: The Saints win. St. Lawrence 3-0

Quinnipiac at Union
Candace: I think the Bobcats are too good defensively. Quinnipiac 2-1
Nicole: The Bobcats take this one. Quinnipiac 3-1

New Hampshire at Maine
Candace: Maine is better at home. Maine 3-2
Nicole: I’ll take Maine at home in a close one. Maine 3-2

No. 9 Providence at Connecticut
Candace: While Connecticut shows signs of being better, I like the Friars. Providence 4-2
Nicole: Providence wins. Providence 2-1

Sunday, Feb. 4

Merrimack at Vermont
Candace: Watch the Catamounts fall back to Earth. Vermont 3-2
Nicole: I’ll take Vermont at home. Vermont 3-0

Tuesday, Feb. 6

Syracuse at No. 5 Cornell
Candace: Syracuse is better than its record, but it won’t be enough. Cornell 3-1
Nicole: Cornell should win this. Cornell 4-2

Beanpot Tournament

Harvard at Boston University
Candace: The Terriers are good in the Beanpot. Boston University 4-2
Nicole: I’ll take BU here. Boston University 3-2

Northeastern at No. 3 Boston College
Candace: The Huskies have the potential to win this, but I think BC will be eyeing revenge. Boston College 5-4
Nicole: I don’t think BC loses this Beanpot first round game. Boston College 4-3

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 2-3

St. Catherine vs. No. 6 Gustavus Adolphus (home-and-home)
St. Catherine currently sits two points behind Augsburg for a spot in the MIAC tournament. They’ll have a tough task with the Gusties this weekend, but played them to a tie and a one-goal loss last season. I’ll give St. Catherine’s the benefit here and say they earn a tie, since Gustavus has tied in each of their last two series. Tie 2-2, Gustavus Adolphus 3-1

Endicott at Canton
Endicott is looking to finish strong, and Canton is looking to move up as they’re just three points behind second-place Morrisville. Canton doesn’t give up a lot of goals and is second only to Endicott in goals scored. Canton’s record doesn’t seem to match with their talent, and they could give Endicott a tough time this weekend. I’ll pick a split. Endicott 3-1, Canton 4-3

Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 3-4

No. 3 Elmira vs. William Smith (home-and-home)
These two are currently tied for first place in the UCHC, though Elmira has two games in hand. Elmira took their series last season with a pair of 4-1 wins. It’s not going to be an easy weekend for William Smith. I expect Elmira sweeps again in similar fashion. Elmira 4-2, 5-2

Tuesday, Feb. 6

No. 4 Middlebury at No. 1 Norwich
Middlebury just played a tough game with Plattsburgh where they nearly doubled them up in shots but couldn’t find the net in a 2-1 loss. They have Weslyan over the weekend and then hit the ice again. I think I have to pick Norwich here, but would be totally unsurprised by a Middlebury win. Norwich 4-2