Weekend picks: March 9

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Last weekend, we only picked the semifinals of the conference tournaments, but because I picked Minnesota to beat Ohio State, I went 6-1 (.857), while Nicole went 5-2 (.714). On the year, I am 359-127-59 (.712), while Nicole is 349-137-59 (.694). With a 10-game lead, I could get every game wrong from here on out and still win our season picks race. Of course, I think the two of us will likely pick the same going forward, but who knows?

Saturday, March 10

Mercyhurst at Clarkson
Candace: Clarkson looks like a force to be reckoned with. Mercyhurst was definitely the top team in the CHA for most of the year, but the Lakers struggled out of conference. I see Clarkson returning to the Frozen Four. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: The Lakers stacked their early-season schedule with big name opponents, and I’m guessing they did that precisely so they had that experience to draw on here in the postseason. They didn’t fare particularly well against those teams, though it was very early in the season, and they’ve grown a lot since then. However, I still don’t think that’s enough to give them a chance against Clarkson. The Golden Knights are dominant at every position. There aren’t a lot of chinks in the armor to attack. I expect Clarkson to win this. Clarkson 4-2

Northeastern at Colgate
Candace: We are guaranteed at least one new team in the Frozen Four, and that’s a good thing. Otherwise we could have been looking at a third-straight Frozen Four with the same four teams. Northeastern came up big last weekend to win the Hockey East tournament and advance to the NCAA tournament. Northeastern is the sleeper of the tournament to me. The Huskies beat both Wisconsin and Boston College during the regular season, so they clearly have the talent to advance to the Frozen Four. I’ll pick Northeastern just to be contrary to Nicole in one game. Northeastern 3-2
Nicole: If the Northeastern team that beat Boston College and Wisconsin shows up, this is going to be a heck of a game. The problem is that way more often this season, that was not the case. I said it in our Wednesday Women column this week, but I think Colgate is a sneaky good team that folks may not understand is as good as it is. We’ve got a good shot at a first-time national champion this year, and Colgate is a strong contender. I pick them to win. Colgate 3-1

Minnesota at Wisconsin
Candace: This sort of reminds me of a few years ago when Minnesota had to go up against North Dakota on back-to-back weekends, first in the WCHA, then the NCAA tournament. That last game went three overtimes, and was really the closest Minnesota came to losing a game all year, even if Boston College did take them to OT the weekend after. The difference right now is that Minnesota won the last game between the two teams, the Gophers have been better on the road, and if Minnesota can get past Wisconsin, they will be at home for the Frozen Four. That’s a lot of motivation, but I’m not sure it will be enough. I think this goes to at least one OT, but I’m going with the Badgers. Wisconsin 3-2
Nicole: My pick for this game probably changes by the minute. The Badgers have such an advantage at LaBahn and the game sold out, including standing room only, in less than two minutes. They need to play their game and stick with what has been working for them. Minnesota is about as high as a team can be after playing for their life and winning last weekend. There are no more familiar foes than these two — three of Wisconsin’s last four games were with the Gophers and now this. It’s going to come down to a very slim margin, but I’ll take the Badgers. Wisconsin 3-2

Ohio State at Boston College
Candace: A lot of how this game goes could come down to whether Kassidy Sauve is in net for Ohio State. She is the type of player that can get in the heads of BC’s high-flying forwards. BC will come out fast and furious, especially after losing to Connecticut in the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament, and that may be the difference. I think BC squeaks by. Boston College 4-3
Nicole: This is the game I’m most interested in in terms of a matchup of squads we don’t much get to see. Boston College is so thirsty for a title, and they have a lot to prove after that early Hockey East tournament exit. They have such a dynamic offense, and it can just go into hiding sometimes. The Eagles have to be hoping Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve continues to be out. Both teams count on puck possession, and I’m not sure either will get it — these games tend to be a lot less smooth than the ones during the regular season. How either one adapts to that will be pretty key. I’ll take Boston College here, but this is the game most prime for an upset, I think. Boston College 5-3

Weekend picks: March 9

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Last weekend, we only picked the semifinals of the conference tournaments, but because I picked Minnesota to beat Ohio State, I went 6-1 (.857), while Nicole went 5-2 (.714). On the year, I am 359-127-59 (.712), while Nicole is 349-137-59 (.694). With a 10-game lead, I could get every game wrong from here on out and still win our season picks race. Of course, I think the two of us will likely pick the same going forward, but who knows?

Saturday, March 10

Mercyhurst at Clarkson
Candace: Clarkson looks like a force to be reckoned with. Mercyhurst was definitely the top team in the CHA for most of the year, but the Lakers struggled out of conference. I see Clarkson returning to the Frozen Four. Clarkson 4-1
Nicole: The Lakers stacked their early-season schedule with big name opponents, and I’m guessing they did that precisely so they had that experience to draw on here in the postseason. They didn’t fare particularly well against those teams, though it was very early in the season, and they’ve grown a lot since then. However, I still don’t think that’s enough to give them a chance against Clarkson. The Golden Knights are dominant at every position. There aren’t a lot of chinks in the armor to attack. I expect Clarkson to win this. Clarkson 4-2

Northeastern at Colgate
Candace: We are guaranteed at least one new team in the Frozen Four, and that’s a good thing. Otherwise we could have been looking at a third-straight Frozen Four with the same four teams. Northeastern came up big last weekend to win the Hockey East tournament and advance to the NCAA tournament. Northeastern is the sleeper of the tournament to me. The Huskies beat both Wisconsin and Boston College during the regular season, so they clearly have the talent to advance to the Frozen Four. I’ll pick Northeastern just to be contrary to Nicole in one game. Northeastern 3-2
Nicole: If the Northeastern team that beat Boston College and Wisconsin shows up, this is going to be a heck of a game. The problem is that way more often this season, that was not the case. I said it in our Wednesday Women column this week, but I think Colgate is a sneaky good team that folks may not understand is as good as it is. We’ve got a good shot at a first-time national champion this year, and Colgate is a strong contender. I pick them to win. Colgate 3-1

Minnesota at Wisconsin
Candace: This sort of reminds me of a few years ago when Minnesota had to go up against North Dakota on back-to-back weekends, first in the WCHA, then the NCAA tournament. That last game went three overtimes, and was really the closest Minnesota came to losing a game all year, even if Boston College did take them to OT the weekend after. The difference right now is that Minnesota won the last game between the two teams, the Gophers have been better on the road, and if Minnesota can get past Wisconsin, they will be at home for the Frozen Four. That’s a lot of motivation, but I’m not sure it will be enough. I think this goes to at least one OT, but I’m going with the Badgers. Wisconsin 3-2
Nicole: My pick for this game probably changes by the minute. The Badgers have such an advantage at LaBahn and the game sold out, including standing room only, in less than two minutes. They need to play their game and stick with what has been working for them. Minnesota is about as high as a team can be after playing for their life and winning last weekend. There are no more familiar foes than these two — three of Wisconsin’s last four games were with the Gophers and now this. It’s going to come down to a very slim margin, but I’ll take the Badgers. Wisconsin 3-2

Ohio State at Boston College
Candace: A lot of how this game goes could come down to whether Kassidy Sauve is in net for Ohio State. She is the type of player that can get in the heads of BC’s high-flying forwards. BC will come out fast and furious, especially after losing to Connecticut in the semifinals of the Hockey East tournament, and that may be the difference. I think BC squeaks by. Boston College 4-3
Nicole: This is the game I’m most interested in in terms of a matchup of squads we don’t much get to see. Boston College is so thirsty for a title, and they have a lot to prove after that early Hockey East tournament exit. They have such a dynamic offense, and it can just go into hiding sometimes. The Eagles have to be hoping Buckeyes goalie Kassidy Sauve continues to be out. Both teams count on puck possession, and I’m not sure either will get it — these games tend to be a lot less smooth than the ones during the regular season. How either one adapts to that will be pretty key. I’ll take Boston College here, but this is the game most prime for an upset, I think. Boston College 5-3

Weekend picks: March 9

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Friday, March 9

No. 8 Wisconsin-Eau Claire at No. 6 Gustavus Adolphus
These two tied very early in the season, but I’m not sure that game has much relevance any more. Gustavus was on a 12-game unbeaten streak until they lost to Hamline in the MIAC final. The BluGolds haven’t lost in their last nine outings. These two are virtually indistinguishable when it comes to the stats. Gustavus scores 3.15 goals per game and allows 1.41. Wis.-Eau Claire scores 3.14 goals per game and allows 1.54. Their goalies are thousandths of a point apart on save percentage. One place that could be a big difference-maker is special teams. The Gusties do have a pretty significant advantage on both the power play and penalty kill, so the BluGolds will want to see a clean game. I love an underdog, and I think Wis.-Eau Claire has all the momentum. Wis.-Eau Claire 3-2

Saturday, March 10

No. 5 Adrian at No. 3 Elmira
Elmira dominated Adrian when they met during the regular season, taking a 5-1 win. The Soaring Eagles are scoring more than a point more per game then the Bulldogs. Adrian is on a 13-game win streak and took a thrilling 4-3 overtime win from Lake Forest to take the NCHA title. Elmira is on a 14-game unbeaten streak. They lost just two games all season. The Bulldogs are making their second straight NCAA appearance, and that experience will definitely help them, but I’m not sure they can match the firepower of Elmira. I’ll pick the Soaring Eagles to win. Elmira 4-2

Morrisville at No. 1 Norwich
It wasn’t going to be an easy task for any team to take on Norwich, which has just one loss –- to Plattsburgh –- all season. They lead the country, averaging 5.68 goals per game. They allow just 1.11 goals per game. They have three scorers in the national top 20. They look virtually unstoppable. Morrisville did not lose a game in the brand-new CHC, but they just aren’t going to be able to match up to the powerhouse that is Norwich this season. Norwich 4-1

No. 4 Middlebury at No. 2 Plattsburgh
The Cardinals haven’t lost a game since late November. They are the four-time defending national champions. Middlebury’s last loss came at the hands of Plattsburgh back at the end of January. The Cardinals took a 2-1 win. Plattsburgh is allowing just 0.89 goals per game –- the only team in the country to allow fewer than one goal per game, though Middlebury is also quite stingy on defense, allowing only 1.11 goals per game. If Middlebury can find a way to neutralize the potent Plattsburgh offense –- something they did effectively not that long ago, they have a chance of ending the Cardinals’ dynasty. I made a rule last year never to pick against Plattsburgh, so I’ll stick with that now, but I definitely think Middlebury could pull off an upset here. Plattsburgh 3-2

Wisconsin-Eau Claire or Gustavus Adolphus at No. 7 Hamline
Since I’m picking Wisconsin-Eau Claire in the play-in game, they’re who I’ve got facing Hamline in this quarterfinal match. As much as I loved the Cinderella story of the BluGolds, I think their road stops here. Hamline has just been unfathomably good and really, a fairy-tale story of their own. The Pipers have three players in the top five in scoring in the country. Goalie Sam Walther is ranked fifth in the country, with a .960 save percentage and allows just 1.08 goals per game. If there’s a weakness, it’s on defense. The Pipers allow nearly two goals per game, and Wis.-Eau Claire will be looking to exploit that. Their defense is a bit tighter, and if they can rein in Hamline’s offense and keep them from scoring more than four goals, they will have a chance. Hamline takes a good number of penalties, so special teams may be a spot that the BluGolds can gain some ground. I think Hamline is a bit of a bulldozer at this point, so I’ll pick them to win. Hamline 4-2