CHF ECAC(HL) Weekend Preview for 2/24/06

By now we all are aware of the possibilities for the playoffs and whose winning what games will put teams in what position. So instead of focusing on all that let's take a look at the actual match-ups in the last week of regular season play.

Colgate / Cornell @ RPI / Union

Cornell is in a bit of a rough stretch going 1-2-1 in their last four. Throw this in with the fact that their last lost came against Harvard, at home, on Senior Night, for the Ivy League title, and Cornell is not going to be the happiest hockey team in the Capital District this weekend. Being angry, however, is not the hallmark of team on the rebound. Cornell faces two tough tests from RPI and Union, two teams that went into Lynah and came out with three points the first time around. RPI is coming off a pair of ties to Quinnipiac and Princeton while Union is coming off an overtime win against the Tigers. Both RPI and Union play better at home. Union in particular, is an impressive 10-1-4 at home this year, while RPI is 10-5-1. For Cornell to take home the Cleary Cup they need to get past their recent sluggish play and find a way to get their D back in the game. For RPI and Union to be successful they need to weather the early storm and hold Cornell to no goals in the first 10 minutes, then it should be anyone's game.

Colgate comes in following a weekend split, defeating Harvard and being shutout by Dartmouth. Look for the Raiders to be fired up and make a run at the conference title. I would be very surprised to see Colgate come out flat on Friday at Union. This match-up will provide us with the best goaltending battle in the conference as Kris Mayotte faces Mark Dekanich. Mayotte plays well at home and will have that to his advantage but Dekanich has put up solid numbers all year and is looking to make a run at the Dryden award. A sweep for either team will probably put their goaltender in that spot.

Gobe's Picks:

Cornell 3 at RPI 1

Colgate 4 at Union 2

Colgate 4 at RPI 5

Cornell 4 at Union 3

Ron's Picks:

Cornell 4 at RPI 2

Colgate 3 at Union 2

Colgate 3 at RPI 1

Cornell 4 at Union 3

Princeton / Quinnipiac @ Brown / Yale

All this series will determine is who travels where in the first round. At times Princeton, Yale and Quinnipiac have looked very good, but to quote Bill Parcells, "At this time of year, you are what you are."

Gobe's Picks:

Princeton 5 - Brown 1

Yale 4 - Quinnipiac 2

Quinnipiac 5 - Brown 2

Yale 5 - Princeton 3

Ron's Picks:

Princeton 2 at Brown 3

Quinnipiac 4 at Yale 3

Quinnipiac 3 at Brown 2

Princeton 2 at Yale 4

Clarkson / SLU @ Dartmouth / Harvard

Probably the best matchup of the weekend, this features three teams all looking for a first round bye and all four teams playing some of their best hockey of the year. Clarkson and SLU come off high energy sweeps of Yale and Brown. Dartmouth and Harvard split their weekends against Colgate and Cornell. Dartmouth has been playing its best hockey lately going 6-1-1 in their last eight. At home they are 8-1-0 in conference play and 9-3-0 overall. Clarkson will be without freshman standout Shea Guthrie and will look for another stellar performance from sophomore Matt Isbister on the line with Shawn Weller and Steve Zalewski. Clarkson has been less than great on the road and will look to change things this weekend, but that task is easier said than done against two of the leagues top teams. If their is one beacon of hope for Clarkson is the fact that they are 3-1-1 at Bright since 2000.

St. Lawrence is looking to lock down the last first round bye and can do so with a sweep. They are also looking to avenge an earlier loss to Harvard at Appleton. Harvard will be riding the momentum of an Ivy League title and their first win in Lynah since the Clinton administration. This should be the game of the week as the loser of this game will be virtually out of contention for the first round bye, and potentially at-large NCAA berth.

Gobe's Picks:

St. Lawrence 4 at Harvard 2

Clarkson 3 at Dartmouth 3

Clarkson 4 at Harvard 2

St. Lawrence 4 at Dartmouth 2

Ron's Picks:

St. Lawrence 4 at Harvard 2

Clarkson 3 at Dartmouth 1

Clarkson 4 at Harvard 3

St. Lawrence 2 at Dartmouth 4