To think we are almost ready to have turkey with our families, is something I can hardly fathom. It also means that we are over a quarter of the way through the season. Where did the time go? Well I have no idea, but to soothe our troubles there are a plethora of games and a mixture of non-conference and conference games to make us happy. Four teams will participate in conference games this weekend, as Quinnipiac looks to take control of the conference. It is the only team that is tied at the top, which plays this weekend. It has two games in hand on both Harvard and RPI, who are also tied for first place.

As Quinnipiac looks for distance in the league, St. Lawrence has a monumental opportunity. The Saints play Princeton on Friday, while Quinnipiac plays at Clarkson. St. Lawrence sits two points behind the mess at the top, which includes Quinnipiac. If Both win on Friday, or both lose for that matter, SLU will be just two points behind the lead and will thus be playing for the league tie with the Bobcats or if both lose on Friday and SLU wins there could be a four way tie at the end of the week. All the possibilities seem pretty fun. I like SLU’s chance on Friday playing Princeton, but QU will be in a battle with Clarkson. Colgate and Yale would also be in the mix at five points, sitting a lone point behind SLU and three behind Quinnipiac. Before I get too carried away, in November, we should actually preview the games I guess.

Princeton (1-4-1, 1-3-0) at St. Lawrence (7-4-1, 3-1-0)

As I mentioned above, the Saints have quite the opportunity this weekend. Sweep and it has at least a share of the ECAC lead heading into December. SLU has won four of its last five games with its lone conference loss coming last weekend against Colgate. The Saints are scoring at a clip of four goals a game in conference play, outscoring opponents 19-9. Kyle Hayton had a setback last weekend against Colgate when he have up five, but the freshman responded well and allowed just two the next night.

Princeton is heading in the right direction, but the season has still been struggle. Since a 2-1 victory against Cornell in its ECAC opener, the Tigers have been outscored 14-3 in three consecutive losses. Finding consistent scoring has to be the goal going forward for the Tigers. It has yet to score more than two in a game so far this season.

This could be a bad matchup for Princeton, as SLU can not only score but it has a goaltender that makes the saves necessary to win. With SLU being home, I almost feel as though this one could get ugly and I will predict as such.

Prediction: St. Lawrence 7-1

Quinnipiac (7-2-1, 4-0-0) at Clarkson (3-5-4, 1-1-2)

Quinnipiac is right back in the national picture, as the Bobcats have won six consecutive games. It has also won its first four in conference. It could leave the weekend with a four point lead in the conference if it sweeps, as the RPI and Harvard are both idle. A mixture of good offense and great defense has gotten it back from a tough start. This is a much different team than it was just a month ago, in losses to UMass-Lowell and UConn.

Clarkson has stingy defense, but its offense is hardly scary. Tech has scored just nine goals in its last six games and have just one win since its opening weekend sweep. If things seemed negative against Cornell, a game it lost 2-1, things seemed pretty rosy on Saturday against a good Colgate in a game it was able to tie. Consistent offense and an improved power-play would go a long way.

Quinnipiac is on a roll, Clarkson is not. Tech is winless at home (0-3-1) on the young season. This one will prove to be a tough one for Clarkson, go with Quinnipiac.

Prediction: 4-0 Quinnipiac

Yale (3-1-2, 2-1-1) at Cornell (1-4-1, 1-3-0)

Yale looked impressive in a weekend sweep of Dartmouth and Harvard last weekend. After a rough start, Keith Allain thinks his team has finally come together. it appeared so on the ice and Alex Lyon is quietly making his case as the best goaltender in the conference, which I think he is. For once, a Yale team is built from the net out. This is a far cry from the Yale teams of a few years ago, but this Yale team is stingy and good.

Cornell struggles to score but last weekend was a step in the right direction, as the Big Red it the lamp four times. It has still yet to score more than two in a game, which will win very few games going forward. It got off the schneid last weekend, with a win against Clarkson.

This should prove to be a battle of wits and defense, but Yale has a tad more offense than Cornell right now. That could change of course, but right now I would be dumb to go against my hockey instincts in thinking an Eli win.

Prediction: 3-1 Yale

Brown (1-4-0, 0-4-0) at Colgate (8-3-1, 2-1-1)

Colgate is not quite the team right now that it could have been, but they are still wicked good. The Raiders have the injury bug, with Mike Borkowski and Tylor Spink out for extended periods. Those were two of Colgate’s top scorers from last season. But Gate still has tons of depth this season, albeit now just a little less. Last weekend Colgate beat SLU, 5-2, and it was only able salvage a tie at home against Clarkson. Gate has not won consecutive games since a five game winning streak, ended on November 1st at the hands of Mercyhurst.

Brown is downright struggling, as its younger players have yet to step up. It is also lacking production from its big three and its defense has played lackadaisical. In conference play, the Bears have been outscored 19-5 in just four games. Giving up four a game just won’t win hockey games. This weekend Nick Lappin returns from a two game suspension.

This one probably shouldn’t be close and it won’t be. Brown’s struggle continues another weekend.

Prediction: 6-1 Gate

Bentley (5-5-1, 3-2-1 Atlantic) at Harvard (4-1-2, 3-1-2)

Bentley is 2-1 against ECAC teams this season, as it swept Rensselaer a month ago on the road. It also dropped a decision to Quinnipiac in the season opener. Since sweeping RPI, the Falcons have gone 2-3-1. Bentley has a potent offense that scores 3.64 goals per game and its power-play is tops in the nation at 36.4 percent.

Harvard has a lone loss on the season, which it picked up last weekend against Yale. The Crimson have the goods to stop the Bentley juggernaut on the power-play, as its PK has been perfect so far and is top ranked in the country.  Harvard’s defense is ranked seventh in the nation, allowing a paltry 1.71 goals per game.

The nation’s seventh ranked defense should trump the nation’s fourth ranked offense. Always take the better defense is the lesson I suppose. Harvard has looked too good to drop a game to an Atlantic team.

Prediction: 4-1 Harvard

Saturday games:

Quinnipiac at St. Lawrence

Quinnipiac has owned Canton for the last little bit, while SLU owns Hamden ( if that makes any sense). This is the premier game of the weekend and could be for first place or a tie for a first place. I think St. Lawrence does it at home, something tells me if I don’t pick them they will make me look silly. Quinnipiac made me look silly during last year’s tournament, it is still in my doghouse for a while longer. SLU will exploit QU’s weaknesses in defending and in goal.

Prediction: 4-3 SLU

Princeton at Clarkson

This one has all the makings of being one of those games people just look away for most of it, well I am kidding. Clarkson has the defense to win this one and should, so I am going to pick it that way.

Prediction: 2-1 Clarkson

Yale at Colgate

Colgate’s inconsistency will catch up with it one more Saturday but it will be caused by Alex Lyon playing out of his mind. Yep I am calling it now, Alex Lyon leads the Bulldogs to its second straight road weekend sweep.

Prediction: 2-0 Yale

Brown at Cornell

Both of these teams are struggling more than I would have ever expected before the season, but Cornell has been stopping other teams. The Red win its second of the season at home against a struggling, teetering on collapse Bears team. Cornell also scores two or more for the first time this season.

Prediction: 4-1 Cornell

Tuesday Contests

Rensselaer at New Hampshire

Both teams have been weird this season. UNH has either lit teams up or they have struggled to score, while RPI has been anemic defensively and offensively. UNH should dominate possession in this one, as RPI struggles at that. I will go with the home team, on the big ice to take it.

Prediction: UNH 4-1

Harvard at Boston University

BU is one of the best teams in the nation and we are going to see just how good Harvard is on Tuesday. If Harvard can stop the Eichel line, it stands a chance. Harvard has already smoked BC this season, but this one will prove to be tougher at Agganis Arena.

Prediction: 3-3 Tie

Thursday, November 20th, 2014 - 9:56 pm | Blogs, ECAC, Notes, Thoughts, Ramblings