Tom Mulherin’s weekly high school hockey crystal ball

Death, taxes, and missing the mark on MVC/DCL girls hockey predictions.

Wednesdays of each week have shown the best matchups most of the year, but last week’s crystal ball got off to a lousy start with a case of the Mondays within that big slate.  The Scituate boys took care of Silver Lake to continue its climb from an up-and-down start, the Archbishop Williams boys delivered their first statement win in an impressive comeback over Canton, and the Burlington girls skated to a rare scoreless tie with Malden Catholic.

It looked like the worst part of yet another successful week from the crystal ball was over, as a 7-1-1 record the rest of the way delivered another winning percentage over 70 percent. But where do you think the last loss and tie came from?

Andover continued to shine past the shadows this crystal ball casts over it by forcing unbeaten Shrewsbury to a tie Saturday. HPNA downed Billerica/Chelmsford in another one-score game the following day, making me 1-5-1 on MVC/DCL predictions since the opening week.

Shameful. Let’s see if we can break out of the slump this time around as we head into the final month of the regular season.

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: 9-3-2

OVERALL: 48-24-10

 

*WINNER in all CAPS

BOYS

Wednesday

Norton at NORWOOD, 5 p.m. – The red-hot Mustangs match up with the Tri-Valley League Small’s top team at the right time, adding to Norton’s recent skid with their most signature win thus far.

SANDWICH at Nauset, 6:10 p.m. – Round 2 between the two Cape and Islands League’s heavy hitters, Knights even the season series as Chris Cardillo or Colin McIver help generate a late, go-ahead goal.

Catholic Memorial at ST. JOHN’S PREP, 6:40 p.m. – Over five goals per game in a seven-game win streak has the Eagles’ offense buzzing. They produce enough for a critical season sweep of the reigning Catholic Conference champs.

DUXBURY at Silver Lake, 7:50 p.m. – Revenge is on the menu for the Dragons. Silver Lake is as tough as any to hand two losses in a row to, but Duxbury grits this one out.

Saturday

Newburyport at LYNNFIELD, noon – Should the Pioneers survive a tough battle against Triton, Clippers have a golden chance to hand them their first loss. Lynnfield clamps down defensively to control this, though, extending lead in the Cape Ann League Kinney.

Sunday

Ed Burns Coffee Pot Tournament, all day – Kind of a boringly broad pick without matchups in the tourney official yet, but this day of eight premier games between a bevy of state title contenders is one you don’t want to miss.

Tuesday

ARCHBISHOP WILLIAMS at Franklin, 6:30 p.m. – A sensational comeback over Canton felt like a statement for the Archies last week, another win here builds off it.

 

GIRLS

Wednesday

Falmouth at SANDWICH, 4:30 p.m. – Highly anticipated bout of the last two undefeated Cape and Islands League teams, Knights get enough on defense to stave off the Clippers.

LINCOLN-SUDBURY at Boston Latin, 6 p.m. – The last game in which these foes met resulted in OT, and this time’s matchup won’t veer too far off that script. Warriors sweep regular season series, claim huge win in the MVC/DCL II.

HPNA at ANDOVER, 7:10 p.m. – Andover is playing the best hockey it’s played all year, that streak continues to further distinguish themselves as a true title threat.

Pembroke at DUXBURY, 7:20 p.m. – Titans give plenty of fight every game, but there’s no betting against the unbeaten Dragons.

Thursday

KING PHILIP at Franklin, 5:30 p.m. – Just 1-5 over their last six games, Warriors snap skid to gain more space at the top of the Hockomock League.

Saturday

Billerica/Chelmsford at METHUEN/TEWKSBURY, noon – First episode between these two came down to the final minutes earlier in the year. Don’t expect much different here, only this time in favor of the Red Rangers.

ST. MARY’S (L) at Archbishop Williams, 7:40pm – Perhaps the matchup of the week. MIAA has both ranked at No. 1 in the latest power rankings. St. Mary’s is borderline unbeatable, but the fellow unbeaten Archies’ potent attack will make it tough to overcome.

 

 

 

 

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/iRv1T5Y