I’m not a gambler. If I was, I would be asking President Obama for a bailout plan.
Here is why I don’t gamble. Of the four ECAC Hockey tournament first-round series I predicted last week, I got one right — Union over Clarkson. But I expected to win three of them.
But these words will haunt me until next season.
On analyzing the RPI-Dartmouth series, I picked sixth-seeded Dartmouth to sweep and said: “I don’t see this series as much of a contest.”
Result: 11th-seeded RPI sweeps Dartmouth.
On picking fifth-seeded Harvard to sweep 12th-seeded Brown, I boldly said: “Do they have to play this series? Brown is 3-21-5. The Bears don’t deserve to be in the postseason.”
Result: Brown not only sweeps Harvard, it wins both games by shutout.
I also lost the Colgate-Quinnipiac series, though I did say the series, won by seventh-seeded Quinnipiac, went three games. All of the games went overtime.
Undaunted, I’m back to pick the quarterfinals. But first, let’s review the people who made their picks at the bottom of my blog.
StillCrazyInSection 17: 2-2
redliner36: 1-3
ungerbr: 1-3
KoenigtheBarbarian: 1-0 (only picked the Union-Clarkson series)
collegehockeynews: 0-4
Here we go.
No. 8 Union at No. 3 Princeton
This is a good matchup for Union. The Dutchmen won at Hobey Baker Rink, 3-2, Jan. 9. They are coming off their first postseason series victory at the Division I level. Forward Adam Presizniuk had five points in the two games against Clarkson. The Dutchmen’s offense is clicking.
Princeton is the defending ECACH tournament champions. Forward Lee Jubinville, last year’s Player of the Year, hasn’t lived up to that this year. Goalie Zane Kalemba has carried the Tigers this year.
This is going to be a close series. Union is two games away from reaching the ECACH final four for the first time. And, as I have promised, if the Dutchmen get there, I will wear a tuxedo to cover their semifinal game. If that isn’t motivation, I don’t know what is.
The pick: Union in three, 3-2, 2-4, 3-1.
No. 11 RPI at No. 2 Cornell
Freshman goalie Allen York played a major role in helping the Engineers upset the Big Green. Now, can he do it against the menacing Big Red?
One advantage is that Cornell didn’t face York this season. Mathias Lange played both games.
The key for RPI is to get off to quick starts, and not let Cornell do that. If the Big Red does, it’s all over.
The pick: Cornell in two, 3-2 and 4-1.
No. 12 Brown at No. 1 Yale
I’m not going to say the Bears don’t deserve to be in the postseason, not after freshman goalie Mike Clemente made 88 saves against the Crimson.
But it will be difficult for Clemente to repeat this. Yale is hosting the NCAA tournament East Regional in Bridgeport, Conn., in two weeks. If the Bulldogs want to assure themselves a shot at getting there, it needs to sweep the Bears. Lose, and the season will be over.
The pick: Yale in two, 5-2 and 4-1.
No. 7 Quinnipiac at No. 4 St. Lawrence
Quinnipiac is coming off that hard-fought series with Colgate. Now, the Bobcats have to make the long trip to Canton to face a well-rested Saints team.
Brandon Wong keyed the two wins against the Raiders, scoring the game-winners in overtime. But I think the combination of the tough series and the long trip will conspire to end the Bobcats’ season.
The pick: St. Lawrence in two, 4-2 and 5-3.
Blog updates
Check out my blogs from the Union-Princeton series for live updates during each game.
