Irish eyes smile, River Hawks keep defense alive and one team (make that TWO teams) need to keep practicing

After Notre Dame beat Boston College on the final day of the regular season, there was a reason to believe that the Irish could beat the Eagles in a best-of-three series. Still, it was difficult to pick Notre Dame. That leads the three things I learned this week: 1) Notre Dame proves postseason proficiency I … Read more

Notre Dame, Providence surging into playoffs; Maine, Northeastern not so much

Notre Dame upsets No. 1 Boston College while Providence wins two at Maine. These two teams are playing their best hockey heading into the playoffs. That leads the three things I learned this week: 1. Irish upset Eagles to take six-game unbeaten streak into playoffs Notre Dame pulled off an impressive upset of the top-seeded … Read more

Tightning races, Vermont earns overdue wins and a tie that feels like a win

The fact that Boston College clinched the regular season title a night after Valentine’s Day hardly means that there won’t be excitement in Hockey East in the final weekend of the regular season. That is one of three things I learned this weekend in Hockey East: 1. League races from two through eight incredibly tight … Read more

Crowning a champ, 20 wins and the Irish on the move

Last Monday night, Boston College won its fifth straight Beanpot. But that wasn’t the only trophy the Eagles received last week. That leads off the three things I learned this week: 1. Boston College clinches regular-season title So it seems a little bit early in the calendar, but the Hockey East regular season trophy is already decided. … Read more

Hockey East picks – Jan. 31 – Feb. 3

The good news is that I played Comeback Kid last week, going 6-0 on Saturday after a disastrous 0-5 Friday. The bad news is that I lost a game to Jim in the process. Dave last week: 6-5-0 Jim last week: 7-4-0 Dave’s record-to-date: 114-63-22 Jim’s record-to-date: 118-59-22 Here are this week’s picks: Friday, Jan. 31 Boston College at … Read more

Splits across the league and disappointments

These  are the three things I think I learned this week. 1. Four points can’t get any harder than this. Coaches have long bemoaned the difficulty of getting four points against any Hockey East opponent, regardless of position in the standings. Well, this weekend became their quintessential example. All five league series ended in splits. … Read more

Hockey East picks – Jan. 24-25

I’ve closed to within three after being down by five a few weeks ago. Here’s hoping I pick up two more this week. I’m making some risky picks, so if they don’t work out, I’ll just claim my anesthesiologist got to me early. Dave last week: 10-3-2 Jim last week: 9-4-2 Dave’s record-to-date: 108-58-22 Jim’s record-to-date: 111-55-22 Here are … Read more

Opening a gap, two teams with lost weekends and stealing two points

These are the three things I think I learned this weekend. 1. The regular season title is Boston College’s to lose. The Eagles created more separation at the top of the Hockey East standings, defeating Boston University and Maine, while no other league team picked up four points in the standings. With a 10-1-1 Hockey … Read more