Taking a chance on picking multiple games against Nicole worked well for me, as I gained a game in our season picks race thanks to Boston College’s come-from-behind win in the Beanpot. Last weekend, I went 17-7-8 (.656), while Nicole went 16-8-8 (.625). On the year, I am 308-116-59 (.698), while Nicole is 305-119-59 (.692). This weekend, she has plenty of chances to catch or even pass me.

Friday, Feb. 16

No. 3 Colgate at Rensselaer
Candace: I like the visitors in this. Colgate 4-1
Nicole: This should be a win for the Raiders. Colgate 4-1

Quinnipiac at Brown
Candace: I can’t see Brown upsetting the Bobcats. Quinnipiac 3-1
Nicole: I expect Quinnipiac can take this one. Quinnipiac 3-0

Dartmouth at No. 2 Clarkson
Candace: Clarkson has seemed vulnerable to upsets of late to teams it knows it can beat, but I think the Golden Knights refocus here. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: Clarkson wins. Clarkson 4-1

Harvard at No. 8 St. Lawrence
Candace: I think St. Lawrence will want to set itself up well for the postseason. St. Lawrence 3-2
Nicole: I’m picking Harvard to get an upset win here. Harvard 3-2

No. 5 Cornell at Union
Candace: Even playing for their playoff lives at home won’t be enough for the Dutchwomen. Cornell 2-1
Nicole: Cornell takes this. Cornell 3-1.

Princeton at Yale
Candace: This is a tough one to pick, but I think the Tigers are stronger. Princeton 3-1
Nicole: This could be an interesting game, but I’ll take Yale at home. Yale 2-1

Vermont at Northeastern
Candace: Maybe home ice will help the Huskies. Northeastern 3-2
Nicole: I’m going with the Catamounts. Vermont 3-1

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 16-17

Syracuse at Lindenwood
Candace: I lean toward the Orange getting a sweep. Syracuse 3-2, 3-1
Nicole: I think they’ll split this weekend. Syracuse 2-1, Lindenwood 3-1

RIT at Penn State
Candace: I’m really going all-in here in our season race. Penn State 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: This is likely to be a split, as well. Penn State 3-2, RIT 1-0

Robert Morris at Mercyhurst
Candace: I like a split here, with Robert Morris putting themselves into position to claim the CHA crown. Mercyhurst 3-2, Robert Morris 3-2
Nicole: I’ll have to go with another split, since neither team has shown they’re able to take control for two straight games. Mercyhurst 4-2, Robert Morris 2-1

No. 4 Boston College at No. 10 Maine
Candace: A letdown after a Beanpot win wouldn’t surprise me, but I like the Eagles to sweep. Boston College 4-2, 4-1
Nicole: I would not be surprised to see Maine take one these, but I think the Beanpot buoyed the Eagles quite a bit. I’ll pick a BC sweep. Boston College 5-3, 4-3

Merrimack at Connecticut
Candace: Two very inconsistent teams make this one a bear to pick. Connecticut 2-1, 2-1
Nicole: Merrimack needs to sweep to make the playoffs, but I’m not sure they can make that happen. I think this is a split. Merrimack 3-2, Connecticut 2-1

Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota State
Candace: The Mavericks have surprised some teams of late, but I’m going with the Bulldogs. Minnesota Duluth 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: I apparently think everyone will split this weekend. Minnesota State 3-2, Minnesota Duluth 4-1

Bemidji State at No. 6 Ohio State
Candace: Picking Bemidji hasn’t done me any favors of late. Ohio State 3-1, 3-2
Nicole: I’m giving OSU the advantage at home, but think Bemidji has a shot at a win here. Ohio State 3-1, 3-0

No. 7 Minnesota at No. 1 Wisconsin
Candace: Even though I haven’t had a good handle on the WCHA compared to Nicole, I think home ice gains the Badgers a sweep. Wisconsin 3-2, 3-2
Nicole: I honestly have no idea what to pick here, so I guess I’ll hedge it and pick a split. Wisconsin 4-2, Minnesota 3-2

Saturday, Feb. 17

Princeton at Brown
Candace: The Tigers solidify their playoff position. Princeton 3-1
Nicole: Princeton wins. Princeton 4-2

Harvard at No. 2 Clarkson
Candace: Clarkson will need this win for the ECAC crown. Clarkson 3-1
Nicole: Clarkson wins this. Clarkson 3-1

No. 5 Cornell at Rensselaer
Candace: I like the Big Red to edge out the Engineers. Cornell 2-1
Nicole: Cornell take this one. Cornell 3-0

Dartmouth at No. 8 St. Lawrence
Candace: The Saints finish strong. St. Lawrence 4-1
Nicole: This should be the home team. St. Lawrence 2-0.

No. 3 Colgate at Union
Candace: The Raiders have too many weapons. Colgate 4-1
Nicole: The Raiders take this one. Colgate 4-1

Quinnipiac at Yale
Candace: I think the Bobcats will just eek this out. Quinnipiac 2-1
Nicole: I’m going to pick Yale at home here. Yale 2-1

Saturday/Sunday

New Hampshire vs. Boston University
Candace: A split seems likely. Boston University 3-2, New Hampshire 3-2
Nicole: A like a split. Boston University 4-2, New Hampshire 3-2

Sunday, Feb. 17

Northeastern at Providence
Candace: Both teams are so inconsistent, so I’ll go with home ice. Providence 3-1
Nicole: I’ll take the Friars at home. Providence 2-1

Matthew and I went 3-1 last weekend, so I still have a two-game lead in our picks race, as I am 84-51-19 on the year, while Matthew is 82-53-19. Here’s the weekend that could decide the season though, so let’s see which of us comes out on top.

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 16-17

No. 2 Denver vs Colorado College (home-and-home)
Candace: I’m going out on a limb. Despite CC’s strong play of late, I think Denver will be amped up and get it done. Denver 3-2, 3-1
Matthew: CC still has a ton to play for, and the Tigers will definitely be up for this series, so I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the home teams win. Colorado College 4-2, Denver 3-1

Miami at No. 11 Minnesota Duluth
Candace: Duluth has fallen back to Earth somewhat, but Miami has struggled of late as well. The two teams split back in November. I think Duluth will get two close wins. Minnesota Duluth 3-2, 3-1
Matthew: UMD was swept last time out, but only in two one-goal games against a very good Denver team. The Bulldogs should have a somewhat more straight-forward task this time. It’s tricky, though, because Duluth hasn’t been amazing home or away this season. Minnesota Duluth 3-1, Miami 3-2

No. 9 North Dakota at No. 13 Omaha
Candace: North Dakota only has one win in its last seven games, going 1-3-3. The two teams split back in January, and that seems likely again. Omaha 3-2, North Dakota 3-1
Matthew: UNO is .500 since New Year’s, and I don’t think the Mavericks could complain too much about splitting their season series with UND. Omaha 3-2, North Dakota 4-2

No. 3 St. Cloud State at No. 15 Western Michigan
Candace: Western is missing Wade Allison and Colt Conrad, while St. Cloud is without Will Borgen. A split wouldn’t surprise me, but I like St. Cloud to set up an epic series with Denver next weekend by sweeping here. St. Cloud State 3-2, 3-2
Matthew: This goes against what had become the standard narrative about Western being great at home, but I don’t know if the Broncos get anything from this series without Allison and Conrad. St. Cloud State 3-1, 3-1

Friday-Saturday, Feb. 16-17

Nichols at Morrisville
Morrisville is currently tied with Endicott atop the CHC, but Endicott has completed their regular season slate, so Morrisville needs any points from this series to take the regular season crown. They’ve had the best of this series of late, so they should sweep the weekend, but the pressure is on. Morrisville 5-1, 4-0

No. 9 St. Thomas at No. 10 Hamline
Hamline has the lead in the MIAC, but Gustavus Adolphus is just two points back is playing the last place team in the conference, so they’re likely to grab some points. St. Thomas, meanwhile, is on a self-imposed postseason ban, so while they’re currently third in the standings, they won’t factor into the conference playoffs. They split their regular-season series last year, but St. Thomas got a win in the playoffs. Hamline is at home and knows the stakes, so I think they get at least one here. Hamline 4-2, St. Thomas 5-3

St. Scholastica at Lake Forest
St. Scholastica is one point back from Adrian for the top spot in the league, while Lake Forest is just two points behind them. Adrian faces sixth place Marian, so if they want to move up, one of these two teams needs to sweep the weekend to even have a chance. Lake Forest swept their regular-season series last year and also won a game and the mini-game to beat St. Scholastica in the playoffs. Lake Forest just has so much offensive firepower that they’re difficult to slow down. I think Lake Forest sweeps at home. Lake Forest 4-3, 5-3

Connecticut College at Hamilton
The Camels currently sit second in the NESCAC, with Amherst two points back and Hamilton three points back. Hamilton will be looking to improve their postseason position, and Connecticut College will be looking to hold them off. Last season, the Camels won one, and they tied the other in this regular season series. I think we’ll see a split here, with Hamilton winning game one and Connecticut College winning game two. Hamilton 3-2, Connecticut College 4-3

Saturday, Feb. 17

No. 5 Wisconsin-River Falls at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Wisconsin-River Falls already clinched the regular season title, and the postseason positions are set in the WIAC. Wisconsin-Eau Claire is tied in the standings with Wisconsin-Superior. Whoever comes out of the weekend with more points will get to host next weekend’s game. The Falcons beat the BluGolds earlier in the season, and the two teams tied last weekend. I think Wisconsin-Eau Claire has the extra bit on home ice and in need of a point. Wisconsin-Eau Claire 4-3