1. Quinnipiac Bobcats (11-0-0, 4-0-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/13 vs. Harvard W 4-1, 11/14 @ Colgate W 6-2, 11/17 @ UConn W 6-2.
Quinnipiac remains my top team. It breezed through the weekend defeating No. 7 Harvard, Dartmouth and UConn on Tuesday. The Bobcats have the most explosive offenses in the country as they are averaging 4.64 goals per game, No. 1 in the country. Tim Clifton has scored eight goals in seven games and Sam Anas has scored at least one point in ten of 11 games this season.
Next three: 11/20 vs. Clarkson, 11/21 vs. St. Lawrence, 11/27 @ UMass
1. Quinnipiac Bobcats (11-0-0, 4-0-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/13 vs. Harvard W 4-1, 11/14 @ Colgate W 6-2, 11/17 @ UConn W 6-2.
What hasn’t been said about the Bobcats already? A perfect 11-0-0 record, top in the PairWise and players that lead in nearly every statistical category, as well an offense that’s averaging 4.64 goals per game. Quinnipiac is scary.
Next three: 11/20 vs. Clarkson, 11/21 vs. St. Lawrence, 11/27 @ UMass
2. Harvard Crimson (4-1-1, 4-1-1 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Brown W 5-2, 11/13 @ Quinnipiac L 4-1, 11/14 @ Princeton W 3-0.
Next three: Last week’s number one has dropped to number two this week. They had a strong defensive showing, with guys clogging up the passing and shooting lanes in the zone against Quinnipiac. What scares me the most for them is the goaltending rotation between Lackey and Madsen. Going without a number one may hurt them down the stretch.
Next three: 11/27 @ Notre Dame, 11/28 vs. RPI/Western Michigan, 12/4 @ Union.
2. Harvard Crimson (4-1-1, 4-1-1 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Brown W 5-2, 11/13 @ Quinnipiac L 4-1, 11/14 @ Princeton W 3-0.
I agree with you on this one. It’s difficult for a goalie to get in a groove without consistent starts. Harvard’s offense is good enough to keep up with anyone however.
Next three: 11/27 @ Notre Dame, 11/28 vs. RPI/Western Michigan, 12/4 @ Union.
3. Cornell Big Red (3-1-0, 5-1-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Quinnipiac L 5-4, 11/13 vs. Colgate W 5-1 11/14 @ Colgate W 3-2.
Cornell jumps up five spots after two solid wins against Colgate. The Big Red offense has been the surprise for me this year. Mike Schaffer’s squad as it is netting 3.83 goals per game, second in ECAC. Last season Cornell averaged 1.87 goals per game, second to last in the conference. Mitch Gillam has been his usual solid self in net. The Big Red may have something brewing up in Ithaca this season.
Next three: 11/20 @ Yale, 11/21 @ Brown, 11/28 vs. BU
3. Yale Bulldogs (4-1-1, 2-1-1 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 @ Dartmouth W 4-2, 11/13 @ Rensselaer L 3-2, 11/14 @ Union W 4-2.
Yale’s defense continues to do scary things, currently tied for fourth in the nation in team defense, allowing 1.67 goals per game. If Lyon stays on top and his team scores a few in front of him, this Bulldogs team will be a formidable opponent all year.
Next three: 11/20 vs. Cornell, 11/21 vs. Colgate, 11/28 @ Providence.
4. RPI Engineers (5-4-2, 4-0-2 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 @ St. Lawrence W 4-3, 11/13 vs. Yale W 3-2, 11/14 vs. Brown T 3-3.
The conference topper is my number four. There’s an element of surprise with this team, who has had two games at hand on all except Harvard in the ECAC. The fact that they almost — and should have— lost to Brown shows some of the cracks in its armor.
Next three: 11/20 @ Bentley, 11/24 vs. UNH, 11/27 @ Western Michigan.
4. Yale Bulldogs (4-1-1, 2-1-1 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 @ Dartmouth W 4-2, 11/13 @ Rensselaer L 3-2, 11/14 @ Union W 4-2.
I’m putting Yale down one spot after its loss to RPI as I’m not a believer in the Engineers just yet. Yale’s defense is scary good led by goaltender Alex Lyon and defenseman Rob O’Gara, but it needs to score to challenge Harvard and Quinnipiac.
Next three: 11/20 vs. Cornell, 11/21 vs. Colgate, 11/28 @ Providence.
5. Rensselaer Engineers (5-4-2, 4-0-2 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 @ St. Lawrence W 4-3, 11/13 vs. Yale W 3-2, 11/14 vs. Brown T 3-3.
RPI escaped the weekend with three points after tying Brown and defeating Yale. The Engineers had to be happy tying the Bears after video replay technical difficulties nullified review of what appeared to be a late game-winning goal by the Bears. If the replay system had been working the goal would have counted. The Engineers have been good under pressure this season as they are 4-1 in one goal games.
Next three: 11/20 @ Bentley, 11/24 vs. UNH, 11/27 @ Western Michigan.
5. St. Lawrence Saints (7-3-1, 2-1-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/6 vs. Union W 6-3, 11/7 vs. RPI L 4-3, 11/13 vs. Clarkson W 3-0.
St. Lawrence has the number six penalty kill in the nation, 51-for-56, good for a 91% conversion rate. The Saints enter the weekend at 7-3-1 on the year looking to play spoiler again to a big Quinnipiac run.
Next three: 11/20 @ Princeton, 11/21 @ Quinnipiac, 12/4 @ Cornell.
6. Cornell Big Red (3-1-0, 5-1-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Quinnipiac L 5-4, 11/13 vs. Colgate W 5-1 11/14 @ Colgate W 3-2.
The Big Red flip flop with the Saints to take sixth. They’re a good team, with players like and ECAC best net minder Mitch Gillam and work of Jeff Kubiak and Anthony Angello up front. This team is deceptively good, tied for fourth in the PairWise with Nebraska-Omaha.
Next three: 11/20 @ Yale, 11/21 @ Brown, 11/28 vs. BU
6. St. Lawrence Saints (7-3-1, 2-1-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/6 vs. Union W 6-3, 11/7 vs. RPI L 4-3, 11/13 vs. Clarkson W 3-0.
St. Lawrence has been solid this season. Top five in the conference in goals allowed and goals scored, it has a huge opportunity to beat Quinnipiac this weekend. St. Lawrence’s penalty kill will be key against a potent Quinnipiac power play.
Next three: 11/20 @ Princeton, 11/21 @ Quinnipiac, 12/4 @ Cornell.
7. Brown Bears (1-3-1, 1-2-1 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 @ Harvard L 5-2, 11/13 @ Union W 3-2, 11/14 @ RPI T 3-3.
Brown got robbed of an extra two points after the video replay disaster against RPI last week. Regardless the Bears have woken up and are playing competitive hockey. Nick Lappin took home ECAC Player of the Week after his four point weekend.
Next three: 11/20 @ Colgate, 11/21 vs. Cornell, 11/27 vs. Colgate.
7. Colgate Raiders (4-7-0, 1-3-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Princeton W 2-1, 11/13 @Cornell L 5-1, 11/14 vs. Cornell L 3-2.
Colgate has a lot of big pieces but they’re lacking that ‘it’ factor so far this year. The Raiders, currently at 4-7-0 on the year, should work on cracking .500 for now.
Next three: 11/20 @ Brown, 11/21 @ Yale, 11/27 vs. Brown
8. Clarkson Golden Knights (5-4-1, 0-3-1 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/6 vs. RPI T 2-2, 11/7 vs. Union L 4-1, 11/13 at St. Lawrence L 3-0.
Clarkson has yet to win a conference game, but with a 5-5-2 record on the year— good enough to squeak into the top 20 in the USCHO poll and 15 in the PairWise. The Golden Knights are a team that can’t be written off yet.
Next three: 11/20 @ Quinnipiac, 11/21 @ Princeton, 11/27 vs. Arizona State.
8. Dartmouth Big Green (1-3-0, 1-3-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Yale L 4-2, 11/13 @ Princeton W 3-2, 11/14 @ Quinnipiac L 6-2.
The Big Green are giving up the third most goals in the nation, 4.5 per game. They haven’t had the easiest of schedules, two games against Harvard and Quinnipiac is a tough way to start the season.
Next three: 11/27 @ Michigan, 11/28 @ Michigan, 12/4 @ RPI.
9. Clarkson Golden Knights (5-4-1, 0-3-1 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/6 vs. RPI T 2-2, 11/7 vs. Union L 4-1, 11/13 at St. Lawrence L 3-0.
Terrible weekend for Clarkson as it suffers a bad loss to Union, 4-1, and got shutout by St. Lawrence, 3-0. After scoring 27 goals their first seven games, the Golden Knights have only tallied one goal in their last two. Casey Jones’ squad is going to need to find the offense fast as Clarkson travels to play Quinnipiac on Friday.
Next three: 11/20 @ Quinnipiac, 11/21 @ Princeton, 11/27 vs. Arizona State.
9. Brown Bears (1-3-1, 1-2-1 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 @ Harvard L 5-2, 11/13 @ Union W 3-2, 11/14 @ RPI T 3-3.
Brown should have defeated RPI, but as fate and iffy technology would have it, came out of the weekend at 1-3-1. The Bears would be on an upward trend if they didn’t give up close to five goals per game.
Next three: 11/20 @ Colgate, 11/21 vs. Cornell, 11/27 vs. Colgate.
10. Dartmouth Big Green (1-3-0, 1-3-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Yale L 4-2, 11/13 @ Princeton W 3-2, 11/14 @ Quinnipiac L 6-2.
Dartmouth played well against Quinnipiac and Princeton on the weekend. But, the Big Green have the worst goals against average in the ECAC and the worst penalty kill, leaving a lot to be desired.
Next three: 11/27 @ Michigan, 11/28 @ Michigan, 12/4 @ RPI.
10. Colgate Raiders (4-7-0, 1-3-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 vs. Princeton W 2-1, 11/13 @Cornell L 5-1, 11/14 vs. Cornell L 3-2.
Colgate has games where it struggles to score and games where it unloads on offense. Tyson and Tylor Spink and Charlie Finn are the key pieces for this Colgate team.
Next three: 11/20 @ Brown, 11/21 @ Yale, 11/27 vs. Brown
11. Union Dutchmen (3-6-3, 1-5-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 @ Colgate L 2-1, 11/13 vs. Brown L 3-2, 11/14 vs. Yale L 2-1.
Rick Bennet’s team is struggling to find its identity right now. Struggling on both offense and defense the Dutchmen have lost games by wide-margins and have also been unable to score the key goal. Union has suffered two overtime losses this year and is 0-3 in games decided by one goal. Mike Vecchione is a player that needs to step up. He’s totaled six points in ten games this season=, he had 12 through ten games last season.
Next three: 11/28 @ Merrimack, 12/4 vs. Harvard, 12/5 vs. Dartmouth.
11. Union Dutchmen (3-6-3, 1-5-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 @ Colgate L 2-1, 11/13 vs. Brown L 3-2, 11/14 vs. Yale L 2-1.
The highlight for the Dutchmen is Shayne Gostisbehere scoring is first NHL goal. Union has lost its last two, and sits at 1-5 in the conference. They’re also a team that frequents the sin bin, with the 159 penalties in minutes leading the ECAC.
Next three: 11/28 @ Merrimack, 12/4 vs. Harvard, 12/5 vs. Dartmouth.
12. Princeton Tigers (1-5-0, 0-4-0 ECAC) – Gabbi
Previous three: 11/7 @ Colgate L 2-1, 11/13 vs. Dartmouth L 3-2, 11/14 vs. Harvard L 3-0.
Sorry Princeton. The Tigers are 1-5 this season, with the lone win coming against the goal a game Maine Black Bears.
Next three: 11/20 vs. St. Lawrence, 11/21 vs. Clarkson, 11/27 @ Maine.
12. Princeton Tigers (1-5-0, 0 -4-0 ECAC) – Andrew
Previous three: 11/7 @ Colgate L 2-1, 11/13 vs. Dartmouth L 3-2, 11/14 vs. Harvard L 3-0.
It’s going to be a long season for the Tigers…
Next three: 11/20 vs. St. Lawrence, 11/21 vs. Clarkson, 11/27 @ Maine.
