Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

[Blitz]

Another season is here and teams are preparing for a competitive season ahead. I find games at this point in time are inconsistent as some coaches like to evaluate new recruits leading to lopsided scores, other coaches have a pretty firm grasp of their teams and seem to have things dialed in real early. I look at the Robert Morris results where they go out and beat Bowling Green 3 – 2, then the next night lose to the same team 6 – 0. I don’t think any one game means too much at this point, trends do matter going forward however especially when it comes to in conference games. Exhibition or non-conference games are behind us, coaches have a grasp of their player resources and things will start to shape up fairly quickly now.


Early season results are listed by team in order of the 2018/2019 coaches poll. Do you think your team will exceed the coaches poll, meet the coaches poll or ultimately not make expectations?

Any team screaming they are in trouble at this point?

Anyone care to take a stab at what they see will be the final rankings?

Air Force (#1 coaches poll)
Sunday October 7: Air Force 2, Alberta 2 OT
Friday October 12: Air Force 1, Denver 4
Saturday October 13: Air Force 1, Colorado College 6

Canisius (#2 coaches poll)
Saturday October 6: Canisius 0, Toronto 4
Friday October 12: Canisius 2, Holy Cross 4
Saturday October 13: Canisius 7, Holy Cross 6

Robert Morris (#3 coaches poll)
Sunday October 7: Robert Morris 4, Brock 2
Friday October 12: Robert Morris 3, Bowling Green 2
Saturday October 13: Robert Morris 0, Bowling Green 6

Mercyhurst (#4 coaches poll)
Saturday October 6: Mercyhurst 2, Bowling Green 8
Friday October 12: Mercyhurst 6 OT, Notre Dame 6
Saturday October 13: Mercyhurst 0, Miami 3

American International (#5 coaches poll)
Saturday October 6: American International 1, Providence 3
Friday October 12: American International 3, Niagara 4 OT
Saturday October 13: American International 3, Niagara 1

Army West Point (#6 coaches poll)
Saturday October 6: Army West Point 1, Union 4
Friday October 12: Army West Point 2, UConn 5
Saturday October 13: Army West Point 3, Merrimack 2

RIT (#7 coaches poll)
Saturday October 6: RIT 5, Wilfrid Laurier 2
Friday October 12: RIT 1, UMass Lowell 2
Saturday October 13: RIT 5, UMass Lowell 4 OT

Holy Cross (#8 coaches poll)
Friday October 12: Holy Cross 4, Canisius 2
Saturday October 13: Holy Cross 6, Canisius 7

Bentley (#9 coaches poll)
Friday October 12: Bentley 0, Merrimack 1

Sacred Heart (#10 coaches poll)
Friday October 12: Sacred Heart 2, Northeastern 5
Saturday October 13: Sacred Heart 0, Northeastern 5

Niagara (#11 coaches poll)
Saturday October 6: Niagara 2, York 5
Friday October 12: Niagara 4 OT, American International 3
Saturday October 13: Niagara 1, American International 3

Early season thoughts?

 

[Blitz]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

A nail biter last evening...AIC beat Bentley by a score of 5 to 4 taking overtime to do it.

I'm old school in that I prefer to end a game in a tie with each getting a point, or alternately going overtime with one team getting 2 points versus 1 point for losing in overtime. Having to battle the entire game to make it to extra time and receive zero points is a tough one, perhaps they will even out during the season but Bentley coming away with nothing for their effort seems wrong.

AIC did manage by the scorecard to out shoot Bentley by a fairly wide margin of 32 to 14, with AIC (2 for 5) doubling Bentley's powerplay (1 for 4) with 2 goals to their 1.

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

I agree with Blitz. I would like to see 1 pt for a loss in OT. I wouldn't mind a 3 pt system.

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

AIC has been relatively consistent with their game day roster. #27 Jaks has not been in the lineup, so I don't know if he is hurt or if it is a coach's decision.
Waiting to see #28 who is from Club Hockey (UNLV) in the lineup to see what he has. Impressed with the incoming and redshirt freshmen who have been playing so far.

 

[jflory81]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

A nail biter last evening...AIC beat Bentley by a score of 5 to 4 taking overtime to do it.

I'm old school in that I prefer to end a game in a tie with each getting a point, or alternately going overtime with one team getting 2 points versus 1 point for losing in overtime. Having to battle the entire game to make it to extra time and receive zero points is a tough one, perhaps they will even out during the season but Bentley coming away with nothing for their effort seems wrong.

AIC did manage by the scorecard to out shoot Bentley by a fairly wide margin of 32 to 14, with AIC (2 for 5) doubling Bentley's powerplay (1 for 4) with 2 goals to their 1.

Um, the loser point is not "old-school", in fact it is decidedly "new school", and frankly awful for hockey. It makes each individual game unbalanced (a game that goes to overtime is worth 3 points, and a game that does not is worth 2 points), and incentivizes low-scoring hockey (the less scoring there is, the more likely regulation ends in a tie).

The only standings systems that make sense are the ones that make every game count for equal weight. I think the standings system is fine the way it is, however, if one must have a winner, I'm fine with the 3 points for a win, 1 point each for a tie after overtime, and one point to the winner of the shootout system.

But any standings system such as the NHL/AHL's current system that rewards more points to certain games needs to die in a fire. College hockey plays 5 on 5 (ie regular hockey) for overtime. What's the difference between giving up a goal at 60:15 to lose in overtime and giving up a goal at 59:59 to lose a game with 1 second left in regulation? Why should one be rewarded over the other? Both teams lost. There will be games lost in regulation this season by teams who played far better than Bentley did last night.

 

[Snively65]

Um, the loser point is not "old-school", in fact it is decidedly "new school", and frankly awful for hockey. It makes each individual game unbalanced (a game that goes to overtime is worth 3 points, and a game that does not is worth 2 points), and incentivizes low-scoring hockey (the less scoring there is, the more likely regulation ends in a tie).

The only standings systems that make sense are the ones that make every game count for equal weight. I think the standings system is fine the way it is, however, if one must have a winner, I'm fine with the 3 points for a win, 1 point each for a tie after overtime, and one point to the winner of the shootout system.

But any standings system such as the NHL/AHL's current system that rewards more points to certain games needs to die in a fire. College hockey plays 5 on 5 (ie regular hockey) for overtime. What's the difference between giving up a goal at 60:15 to lose in overtime and giving up a goal at 59:59 to lose a game with 1 second left in regulation? Why should one be rewarded over the other? Both teams lost. There will be games lost in regulation this season by teams who played far better than Bentley did last night.

Could not agree more. Based on the SOG differential, sounds like my team Bentley was completely outplayed last night. Sigh.

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

It was fascinating to see the two AIC @ Canisius games.
Friday, AIC got out to a 1-0 lead and then deflated for a few shifts and let up a quick goal. Took too many penalties and could never get it going. Canisius just sat back and jumped on AIC when they got a chance.
Then Saturday they took less penalties but the ones they did take were really killed effectively. AIC got up and Canisius looked all discombobulated. Poor passes and couldn't get anything started.
Amazing how the same tow teams can look so different on different nights.

 

[Blitz]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

An interesting season and a bit early to be making any predictions, things are starting to shape up wondering if the year has progressed the way many of us contemplated. We do have to take into account the uneven number of games and with that standings will juggle with the games in hand, so sorted by win percentage as it is a fairer representation to where we are in the season.

I have placed the pre-season coaches poll ranking in brackets as a yard stick to measure by.....

In conference, sorted by win percentage
Place, TEAM, GP, W, L, T, PTS, Win %
1 > Air Force 12 GP 8, 4, 0, 16 Pts 0.667 (Coaches poll #1)
2 > AIC 12 GP 7, 4, 1, 15 Pts 0.625 (Coaches poll #5)
2 > Niagara 12 GP 7, 4, 1, 15 Pts 0.625 (Coaches poll #12)

4 > Mercyhurst 10 GP 5, 4, 1, 11 Pts 0.550 (Coaches poll #4)
4 > Robert Morris 10 GP 5, 4, 1, 11 Pts 0.550 (Coaches poll #3)
6 > Army 14 GP 7, 6, 1, 15 Pts 0.536 (Coaches poll #6)
7 > RIT 9 GP 4, 4, 1, 9 Pts 0.500 (Coaches poll #7)

8 > Canisius 13 GP 5, 7, 1, 11 Pts 0.423 (Coaches poll #2)
9 > Bentley 12 GP 4, 7, 1, 9 Pts 0.375 (Coaches poll #9)
10 > Sacred Heart 10 GP 3, 6, 1, 7 Pts 0.350 (Coaches poll #10)

11 > Holy Cross 8 GP 1, 6, 1, 3 Pts 0.188 (Coaches poll #8)

The two teams which coaches poll seem to vary quite a bit are in Canisius pre-season estimate of #2 whereas they currently stand in 8th spot. Niagara on the other hand was anticipated to finish 12th but find themselves currently in 2nd place. The remainder of the teams are seated where they were envisioned with some minor jockeying in the next little bit with games in hand.

Season thoughts ??

 

[CornwallAce]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

I don't understand Bentley. They have won some impressive OOC games, but their record in conference is lacking. AIC beat them in OT, and then tied them and NEVER had the lead at any time except at the very end when they won the 1st game.

I'm not sure how to read RIT. They looked good vs AIC, but AIC's goal tending was below average that week and RIT's goal tending was A+ that weekend. (I firmly believe Drackett got into AIC's head and forced AIC skaters to attempt to make an extra ill advised pass in the 2nd game.) But take away AIC's games and they are 2-4-1

I can not imagine the Air Force team that came to Springfield resembles the typical Air Force team.

I also don't understand how Holy Cross is 1-6-1. They were forcing AIC to clear the puck out of their zone by the glass continually. Which is something I had rarely see them do all year up to that point. I have been incredibly impressed how AIC didn't typically panic no matter what part of the ice they were in. Even vs Providence the passing in the D zone was super impressive.

I only see Canisius going as far as their goal tending takes them. AIC lost to them because their goal tending was A+ the first game and their team fed off of that. When their goal tending was average in the 2nd game, their team collapsed and played subpar.

i'll be missing the R.M. games due to vacation and possibly the UMass game. Though the way AIC played Quinnipiac, I'm a bit apprehensive about that game.

 

[The1Sandman]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

i'll be missing the R.M. games due to vacation and possibly the UMass game. Though the way AIC played Quinnipiac, I'm a bit apprehensive about that game.

Don't you worry man... I got you back. As they used to say in the ECW era... FOR ONE (well two) NIGHT ONLY!!! The voice of the Springfield Pics will be returning to the booth in his old position!

 

[Blitz]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

Gentlemen,

Season is winding down and it's a tough slog to figure out at this time who will likely be the top 5 teams to get a bye in the first round. We can reasonably ascertain the top club in AIC, beyond that 2 through 5 is a way too tight to even hazard a guess.


American International > 26 GP, 17 W, 8 L, 1 T, 0.673 Pct, 35 Pts.

Bentley > 22 GP, 13 W, 7 L, 2 T, 0.636 Pct, 28 Pts.
Air Force > 22 GP, 11 W, 8 L, 3 T, 0.568 Pct, 25 Pts.
RIT > 22 GP, 11 W, 8 L, 3 T, 0.568 Pct, 25 Pts.
Mercyhurst > 22 GP, 11 W, 9 L, 2 T, 0.545 Pct, 24 Pts.
Sacred Heart > 22 GP, 11 W, 9 L, 2 T, 0.545 Pct, 24 Pts.

Niagara > 23 GP, 9 W, 11 L, 3 T, 0.457 Pct, 21 Pts.
Army > 22 GP, 7 W, 11 L, 4 T, 0.409 Pct, 18 Pts.
Holy Cross > 22 GP, 7 W, 12 L, 3 T, 0.386 Pct, 17 Pts.
Robert Morris > 22 GP, 8 W, 13 L, 1 T, 0.386 Pct, 17 Pts.
Canisius > 23 GP, 6 W, 15 L, 2 T, 0.304 Pct, 14 Pts.

Who is brave enough to give it a shot, top five in order.

Any huge surprises in the standings so far, don't believe anyone would have had Canisius down so far?

Liking how close the standings are stacking up, means Atlantic is getting more competitive and soon teams will not be able to use the regular season as a warm up as every point will matter. As it is now perhaps a single point might separate teams from getting a bye to having to play it out against a competitive team with nothing to lose.

Don't write any team off this season, from 1 through 11 it's shaping up to be a great run this playoffs for the fans.

 

[Snively65]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

I think that Bentley is the biggest surprise of the AHC season with their current, nation-leading, 11-game unbeaten streak.

 

[jflory81]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

Atlantic Hockey clinching and elmination scenarios, for the 4 different tiers of standings (championship, top 4 (2nd round home series), 1st round bye, host 1st round series):

*This does not deal with tiebreakers - to clinch you have to be clear of teams (ie a team that is guaranteed at least a tie for 4th is not guaranteed a top 4 finish) and to be eliminated you must be unable to tie teams at the tier (a team that can finish at best tied for 4th is not eliminated from top 4 contention).

I may have missed a couple of scenarios - this gets pretty crazy when you start factoring in the remaining schedule! This is also entering this weekend's games: Bentley's win over Niagara is not accounted for (so Bentley clinched at least a 1st round home series with their win tonight).


AIC:
- Clinched top 4 position.

BENTLEY:
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with at least 2 points this weekend
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 1 point if Robert Morris/Holy Cross does not end in a sweep
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 1 point and a Robert Morris sweep if Army does not pick up EXACTLY 3 points OR if RIT/Sacred Heart ends in a sweep either way.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 1 point and a Holy Cross sweep if Army does not pick up at least 3 points OR if Army, RIT, and Canisius all sweep.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs if Robert Morris/Holy Cross ends in a split OR if Army fails to collect 2 or more points on the weekend.
- Clinches a bye with a sweep if Air Force and Mercyhurst combine to drop 6 points.
- Clinches a bye with 3 points this weekend if Air Force and Mercyhurst combine to drop 7 points.

RIT:
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep if Holy Cross and Army both don’t sweep their series OR if Niagara fails to take 2 points or more from Bentley.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 3 points if Robert Morris/Holy Cross ends in a split OR if Army takes 1 point or less OR if Niagara is swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 2 points if Mercyhurst sweeps Army and Holy Cross/Robert Morris does not split.
- Can no longer win conference if they take 1 point or less.

AIR FORCE:
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep if Army fails to take 3 or more points OR if Robert Morris/Holy Cross does not end in a sweep OR if Niagara fails to take 2 or more points.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep and a Robert Morris sweep if RIT is swept and Niagara does not sweep OR if RIT takes 1 point and Niagara takes 2 points OR if Mercyhurst is swept OR if Sacred Heart is swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep and a Holy Cross sweep if RIT and Niagara sweep OR if one of RIT and Niagara sweep and Army takes exactly 3 points.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 3 points if Robert Morris/Holy Cross ends in a split OR if Army takes 1 point or less OR if Niagara is swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 3 points and a 3 point Robert Morris weekend if RIT is swept and Niagara takes exactly 1 point.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 2 points if Mercyhurst sweeps Army and Holy Cross/Robert Morris does not split.
- Can no longer win conference if they take 1 point or less

SACRED HEART:
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep if Robert Morris/Holy Cross ends in a split OR if Army takes 1 point or less OR if Niagara is swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep and a 3 point Robert Morris weekend if Niagara picks up exactly one point.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 3 points if Meryhurst sweeps Army and Holy Cross/Robert Morris does not split.
- Can no longer win conference if they take 2 points or less.

MERCYHURST:
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep.
- Can no longer win conference if they take 2 points or less.

NIAGARA (Already eliminated from conference title contention):
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 0 point weekend if two of the following happen (1)RIT takes 3 points or more, (2)Sacred Heart sweeps, (3)Air Force takes 3 points, (4) Mercyhurst sweeps. Additionally, if either (1) or (2) happens, they are also eliminated from top 4 contention if Air Force and Mercyhurst combine to take 2 points.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 1 point weekend if RIT sweeps and Air Force sweeps.
- Eliminated from bye contention if all of the following happen: (1)Niagara is swept, (2)Either RIT takes 3 points or Sacred Heart sweeps, (3)Air Force takes 3 points, (4)Mercyhurst sweeps.

ARMY (Already eliminated from conference title contention)
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if they are swept.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 1 point weekend if two of the following happen: (1)RIT takes 3 points or more, (2)Sacred Heart sweeps, (3)Air Force takes 3 points or more, or (4)Air Force takes 3 points or more AND Robert Morris/RIT combine to take 5 or more points.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 2 point weekend if RIT sweeps, Air Force takes at least two points and Bentley takes at least 1 point.
- Eliminated from bye contention if they are swept and Air Force takes 2 or more points.
- Eliminated from bye contention if they are swept, Sacred Heart takes exactly 3 points, and Niagara sweeps.

ROBERT MORRIS (Already eliminated from conference title contention)
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if they take 1 point or less.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 2 point weekend if two of the following happen: (1)RIT takes 3 points or more, (2)Sacred Heart sweeps, (3)Mercyhurst sweeps, (4)Air Force takes 3 points or more. Additionally, if either (1) or (2) happens, they are also eliminated from top 4 contention if Air Force and Mercyhurst combine to take 2 points.
- Eliminated from bye contention if they are swept and Sacred Heart takes either 2 or 3 points OR if Sacred Heart takes 1 point and Army sweeps.

HOLY CROSS (Already eliminated from conference title contention)
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if they take 1 point or less.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 2 point weekend if two of the following happen: (1)RIT takes 3 points or more, (2)Sacred Heart sweeps, (3)Mercyhurst sweeps, (4)Air Force takes 3 points or more. Additionally, if either (1) or (2) happens, they are also eliminated from top 4 contention if Air Force and Mercyhurst combine to take 2 points.
- Eliminated from bye contention if they are swept and Sacred Heart takes either 2 or 3 points OR if Sacred Heart takes 1 point and Army sweeps.

CANISIUS (Already eliminated from conference title contention, top 4 contention, and bye contention)
- Eliminated from hosting the 1st round if they are swept and either Robert Morris/Holy Cross ends in a sweep in either direction or Army takes 3 or more points.
- Eliminated from hosting the 1st round with a 1 point weekend if Army sweeps and Niagara takes one point.

 

[komey1]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

Individual awards will be interesting. I have to think Coach Lang at AIC should win Coach of the Year, though. Billy Christopoulos is likely goaltender of the year. Ludwig Stenlund is looking good for freshman of the year. POTY is wide open though - as will be all conference teams.

 

[Downstate_RIT_Fan]

Individual awards will be interesting. I have to think Coach Lang at AIC should win Coach of the Year, though. Billy Christopoulos is likely goaltender of the year. Ludwig Stenlund is looking good for freshman of the year. POTY is wide open though - as will be all conference teams.

Agree with your choices listed above. AHA POTY? IMHO Joseph Duszak from ‘Hurst is having a heck of a season. Not sure if it factors in, but how Mercyhurst finishes might play into who is POTY, as well as he is still a Junior.

 

[jflory81]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

So far not much clinched, but that should change this weekend. AIC is the only team to clinch a top 4 position, and Canisius is the only team to be eliminated from the possibility of finishing top 4 (with RoMo and HC hanging by a thread). Only AIC, Bentley, RIT, and Air Force can win the conference title, with AIC having the opportunity to clinch without even playing this weekend. At some point next week I'll figure out all the possible tiebreaking scenarios which should add some clarity as well.



AIC (Has clinched top 4 position)
- Clinches league if Bentley takes 1 point or less and RIT does not sweep. (AIC wins tiebreakers against Bentley and Air Force if no other team is involved).

BENTLEY (Clinched home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs)
- Clinches bye with sweep or a 3 point weekend.
- Clinches bye with a split if Mercyhurst does not take EXACTLY 3 points, RIT gets swept, or if Sacred Heart takes 1 point or less.
- Clinches bye with a 1 point weekend if Sacred Heart is swept or if Mercyhurst takes 1 point or less.
- Clinches bye if Mercyhurst is swept.
- Clinches top 4 with a sweep if RIT drops 2 points or more, Air Force drops 2 points or more, or Sacred Heart does not sweep.
- Clinches top 4 with a 3 point weekend if RIT drops 2 points or more, Sacred Heart drops 2 points or more, or Air Force drops EXACTLY 3 points.
- Clinches top 4 with a split if two or more of the following happen: (1)RIT is swept, (2)Sacred Heart drops 3 points or more, or (3)Mercyhurst does not get EXACTLY 3 points.
- Clinches top 4 with a 1 point weekend if Sacred Heart is swept and Mercyhurst takes 1 point or less.

RIT
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs if they are not swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs if two of the following happen: (1)Holy Cross does not sweep, (2)Mercyhurst does not record at least 2 points, (3)Niagara does not record at least two points, (4)Army does not record at least two points
- Clinches a bye with a sweep if either Sacred Heart is swept or Mercyhurst takes 1 point or less.
- Clinches a bye with a 3 point weekend if Mercyhurst is swept.
- Clinches top 4 with a sweep if Sacred Heart is swept and Mercyhurst takes 1 point or less.
- Eliminated from title contention if they do not sweep.

Air Force (Eliminated from title contention via bad tiebreakers)
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs if they are not swept.
- Clinches home ice in the first round of the playoffs if two of the following happen: (1)Robert Morris does not sweep, (2)Holy Cross does not sweep, (3)Niagara does not record at least two points, (4)Army does not record at least two points.
- Clinches a bye with a sweep.
- Clinches top 4 with a sweep if Sacred Heart is swept.
- Eliminated from title contention if they do not sweep.

SACRED HEART (Eliminated from title contention)
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 2 points or more.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 1 point if two or more of the following occur: (1)Mercyhurst does not record at least two points or Robert Morris does not sweep, (2)Niagara does not record at least two points, (3)Holy Cross does not sweep
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs if two of the following occur: (1)Robert Morris does not pick up at least 3 points, (2)Mercyhurst is swept and Robert Morris picks up exactly 3 points, (3)Niagara is swept, (4)Holy Cross does not record 3 or more points.
- Clinches a bye with a sweep and an Air Force sweep.
- Is eliminated from top 4 contention if they are swept, Air Force sweeps, RIT sweeps, and Bentley takes 1 point or more.

Mercyhurst (Eliminated from title contention)
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 3 points or more.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 2 points if two of the following occur: (1)Robert Morris does not sweep, (2)Holy Cross does not sweep, (3)Army does not record at least two points, (4)Niagara does not record at least two points.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 1 point if two of the following occur: (1)Robert Morris does not record at least 3 points, (2)Holy Cross does not record at least 3 points, (3)Army is swept, (4)Niagara is swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs if Robert Morris does not record at least two points AND Holy Cross does not record at least two points.
- Is eliminated from top 4 contention if they are swept if either RIT takes 3 or more points or Sacred Heart sweeps.
- Is eliminated from bye contention if they are swept, Sacred Heart sweeps, and RIT takes 3 or more points.

Niagara (Eliminated from title contention)
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a sweep if two of the following occur: (1)Robert Morris does not sweep or Mercyhurst takes 1 point or less, (2)Holy Cross does not sweep, (3)Army does not record at least two points.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 3 points if two of the following occur: (1)Robert Morris does not take 3 or more points, (2)Robert Morris takes exactly 3 points and Meryhurst is swept, (3)Holy Cross does not take 3 or more points, (4)Army is swept.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a split if Robert Morris does not take 2 or more points and Holy Cross does not take 2 or more points.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with 1 point if Robert Morris and Holy Cross are both swept.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 1 point weekend or less
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a split if RIT is not swept, Air Force takes exactly one point, or if Sacred Heart takes two or more points.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 3 point weekend if two of the following happen: (1)RIT takes 2 points or more, (2)Sacred Heart takes 3 points or more, (3)Air Force does not take EXACTLY one point.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if two of the following happen: (1)RIT takes 3 points or more, (2)Sacred Heart sweeps, (3)Air Force takes 3 points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention if swept.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a 1 point weekend if Sacred Heart is not swept or Mercyhurst picks up two points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a 2 point weekend if three of the following happen: (1)RIT is not swept, (2)Air Force is not swept, (3)Sacred Heart takes two points or more, or (4)Mercyhurst takes three points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a 3 point weekend if RIT takes 2 points or more, Air Force does not take exactly 1 point, and Sacred Heart takes 3 points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention if RIT takes 3 points or more, Air Force takes 3 points or more, and Sacred Heart sweeps.

Army (Eliminated from title contention)
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round in the playoffs with a sweep if Robert Morris and Holy Cross both take 1 point or less.
- Clinches home ice in the 1st round of the playoffs with a 3 point weekend if Robert Morris and Holy Cross are both swept.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with split or worse.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention with a 3 point weekend if RIT takes two points or more and Air Force does not take exactly 1 point.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if RIT takes 3 points or more and Air Force takes 3 points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a 1 point weekend or worse.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a split if Air Force does not take exactly one point or if RIT is not swept.

Robert Morris (Eliminated from title contention)
- Eliminated from top 4 contention unless they sweep.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if Niagara picks up 3 points or more, Air Force picks up exactly one point, or Sacred Heart picks up 2 points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a split or worse.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a 3 point weekend if Sacred Heart picks up one point or more, Niagara sweeps, or Mercyhurst picks up 2 points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention if two of the following occur: (1)Niagara picks up 3 or more points, (2)Air Force picks up exactly 1 point, (3)Sacred Heart picks up two or more points
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round if they are swept, Niagara is not swept, and Army picks up 3 or more points.
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round if they get 1 point, Niagara picks up 2 or more points, and Army sweeps.

Holy Cross (Eliminated from title contention)
- Eliminated from top 4 contention unless they sweep.
- Eliminated from top 4 contention if (1)Niagara takes 3 points or more (2)RIT is not swept, (3)Air Force picks up exactly one point, or (4)Sacred Heart picks up 2 points or more.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a split or worse.
- Eliminated from bye contention with a 3 point weekend if Sacred Heart picks up 1 point or more, Niagara sweeps, or Mercyhurst picks up 2 points or more.
-Eliminated from bye contention if two of the following occur: (1)Niagara picks up 3 or more points, (2)Air Force picks up exactly 1 point, (3)Sacred Heart picks up two or more points, (4)RIT is not swept.
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round if they are swept, Niagara is not swept, and Army picks up 3 or more points.
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round if they get 1 point, Niagara picks up two or more points, and Army sweeps.

Canisius (Eliminated from bye contention)
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round if they split or worse.
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round with a three point weekend if Army is not swept, Robert Morris gets 3 or more points, or Holy Cross gets 3 or more points.
- Eliminated from hosting in the 1st round if Army gets 2 points or more, Robert Morris sweeps, or Holy Cross Sweeps.

 

[Blitz]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

Going to be one heck of a finish to the season, top 5 has not been decided and way too many possibilities to figure it all out. I can tell you this however, once playoffs start it will be anyone's game this year, whether you finish first overall or somewhere in the pack it is anyone's crown for the taking.

Some other years the disparity from top to bottom was greater, so you had less upsets in play-offs overall. This season it is thrilling to know on any night in any series it will be a coin toss to try and figure out the victor ahead of time. I believe things are that close, and play-off upsets should be the yardstick of seeing if that is indeed the case.

For AHA POTY i haven't seen anyone over the recent years who has come in and dominated play the way Joseph Duszak from Mercyhurst has done. With being a Junior it really is astounding. If you have a chance watch this kid he really is something special. Now a caveat is he has a LOT of learning to do on the defensive side of the game no doubt, but raw skill and instincts is remarkable and he will learn the other aspects of the game the next level up under the right direction. For now however a real treat to watch.

 

[Snively65]

Agree with your choices listed above. AHA POTY? IMHO Joseph Duszak from ‘Hurst is having a heck of a season. Not sure if it factors in, but how Mercyhurst finishes might play into who is POTY, as well as he is still a Junior.

Could we have two Hobey top ten candidates in Joseph Durszak at 'hurst and Blake Christensen at AIC?

 

[Leather Lungs]

Re: Atlantic Hockey 2018 - 2019 Predictions.

Can someone help me out here? The best Bentley can do next weekend is tie AIC and given that AIC won their season series, it seems to me the Yellow Jackets clinched the conference regular season title tonight. What am I missing?

 

[Snively65]

Can someone help me out here? The best Bentley can do next weekend is tie AIC and given that AIC won their season series, it seems to me the Yellow Jackets clinched the conference regular season title tonight. What am I missing?

The race is for second, I think. AIC was for Bentley to reel in, but the Falcons only picked up one point in the past three games.