UMass Lowell is -220 over Yale tomorrow. That means if you need to bet $220 on the River Hawks to win $100. On the other side, if you bet $100 on Yale you would win $180.

What does it all mean. Well, it means that UMass Lowell is a prohibitive favorite in the game and that's because it has won 14 of its last 15 games. Paced by sizzling goalie Connor Hellebuyck, the River Hawks rolled to the Hockey East title knocking off Boston University 1-0 in the title game.

While there's no way that Yale should be a big underdog in the game, I'm going with UMass Lowell 3-2 in the Thursday's opener.

Quinnipiac, the tourney's No. 1 overall seed and the top ranked team in the nation is -150 favorite in the nightcap. The Bobcats fizzled in the ECAC tourney but they probably lost a bit of their edge entering the game knowing they had an NCAA bid in hand.

Once in the tourney Quinnipiac started poorly against Canisius but never panicked and rallied for a 4-3 win.
The Bobcats then hammered Union. They seem to be hitting their best stride and should earn a spot in the title game.

My pick: Quinnipiac 4, St. Cloud State 2