Frozen Four 2012: Boston College Nabs Title With 4-1 Win

Frozen Four 2012 Championship, Boston College Vs. Ferris State: Eagles Win National Title, 4-1

Boston College got two goals each in the first and third periods against Ferris State, and rode a typically brilliant outing from goalie Parker Milner, to a 4-1 win over the Bulldogs for a national title at the 2012 Frozen Four Championship.

Steven Whitney netted two of BC's goals, one on an empty net in the third period, and Milner made 25 saves to preserve a lead that the Eagles claimed early in the first period and reclaimed late in the same period. Johnny Gaudreau's sensational goal in the third period to make it 3-1 with just more than three minutes to go, put the game solidly in the Eagles' grasp.

The title is Boston College's fifth, fourth since 2001 and third in the last five years.

Ferris State got a goal from Garrett Thompson in the first period, and 33 saves from Taylor Nelson, but it was not nearly enough to stymie the Eagles.

Get more on the game from SB Nation Boston and Eagles blog BC Interruption. For complete coverage of the 2012 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, stick with our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012 Championship, Boston College Vs. Ferris State Score: Eagles Still Holding 2-1 Lead

Boston College still has a 2-1 lead on Ferris State in the NCAA Hockey Division I Championship final, and a chance to leave the Frozen Four with its second national title in three years. The Eagles are just 20 minutes away from the final horn now, and hold that 2-1 lead after a scoreless second period.

Boston College's Parker Milner had 15 saves in the period, and kept the Eagles out in front despite four power play chances for Ferris State; the Bulldogs will also begin the third period with a man advantage.

But BC also took 14 shots to Ferris State's 15 despite the many penalties, including one for too many men on the ice, forcing Bulldogs goalie Taylor Nelson to make 14 saves of his own. Both goalies have faced 22 shots on the night, but Milner's one-save advantage is the difference.

Get more on the game from SB Nation Boston and Eagles blog BC Interruption. For complete coverage of the 2012 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, stick with our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012 Championship, Boston College Vs. Ferris State Score: Eagles Lead 2-1

Boston College had only two official scoring chances in the first 17 minutes of the first period against defensive-minded Ferris State, but that's all they needed to take a 2-1 lead in the 2012 Frozen Four National Championship game.

BC's Steven Whitney would score with an assist from Barry Almeida just under four minutes in, but the Bulldogs would answer the Eagles' vaunted offensive attack just two minutes later on a Travis Ouellette goal as Ferris State all but crashed through the BC crease. Boston College would take the lead late in the first on a Paul Carey goal.

BC goaltender Parker Milner has continued his amazing streak through the NCAA Tournament, recording six saves and robbing Ferris State of a potential goal with under a minute remaining in the period.

Get more on the game from SB Nation Boston and Eagles blog BC Interruption. For complete coverage of the 2012 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, stick with our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012 Championship, Boston College Vs. Ferris State: Game Time, TV Coverage And More

The Boston College Eagles will go for their fifth-ever NCAA national title on Saturday evening when they take on the Ferris State Bulldogs in the 2012 Frozen Four championship game.

The Bulldogs, picked to finish ninth in the CCHA during the preseason, have defied the odds to get this far. They'll have to defy them once more to beat the heavily-favored Eagles. Boston College defeated a very strong Minnesota Golden Gophers club, 6-1 on Thursday to advance to this point, and in their three tournament games overall they've only allowed that one goal against. They also topped defending champ Minnesota Duluth in the regional round.

Ferris State plays a strong defensive game, which they used to outlast Union College, 3-1, in their national semifinal on Thursday. They'll need to be at their best against BC, who have unparalleled offensive depth. The Bulldogs absolutely cannot keep up with the Eagles offensively, so they'll need to rely on their trusty defensive game to earn them their first-ever national title in their first-ever trip to the Frozen Four.

Ferris State Bulldogs vs. Boston College Eagles
Saturday, April 7, 7 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN 2, ESPN3.com
Tampa Bay Times Forum, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Get more on the game from SB Nation Boston and Eagles blog BC Interruption. For complete coverage of the 2012 NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, stick with our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012 Championship, Boston College Vs. Ferris State: Bulldogs Hope To Defy Odds One More Time

Ferris State has defied the odds in advancing to the national title game at the 2012 Frozen Four, but they face their biggest test of the season in the Boston College Eagles.

Frozen Four 2012 Results: Boston College Eagles Cruise To Title Game With 6-1 Win Over Minnesota

The Boston College Eagles are an absolute monster. We all saw first-hand why they're the favorite in this 2012 Frozen Four on Thursday night as they decimated the Minnesota Golden Gophers 6-1 to advance to the national final against Ferris State on Saturday. It's their 18th straight win.

Paul Carey scored two goals while Steven Whitney, Brian Dumoulin, Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider added tallies of their own as the Eagles quickly made this one a rout. It was just 1-0 after one period, and it actually appeared as though Minnesota had all the momentum entering the first intermission. That didn't change despite an Eagles power play goal 6:35 into the second, and it was up to goaltender Parker Milner to keep the Gophers off the board.

Milner was up to the task. He made several saves in quick succession to preserve the shutout in the first period and was huge in the second period as Minnesota hit the gas. After one particularly large save about 17 minutes into the period, the Eagles were able to capitalize in transition and open the score to 3-0 thanks to a turnover by the Gophers at the blue line.

That sequence was the turning point in the game, and once the Eagles entered the second intermission up 4-0, the third period was just a formality. Even when Minnesota did get on the board on a Jake Hansen goal 1:26 in, it seemed like the Eagles were just toying with them. A lengthy review confirmed the goal and ruined Milner's shutout bid, but it took just 22 seconds for Boston College to get the lead back on Dumoulin's tally.

The Eagles were favorites entering this season, entering this tournament and entering this Frozen Four. They'll no doubt be heavy favorites over the Bulldogs on Saturday night as well.

For more from the Boston College perspective, check in with Eagles blog BC Interruption and SB Nation Boston. For more from the Minnesota perspective, check in with Gophers blog The Daily Gopher and SB Nation Minnesota. Stick with our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream for complete coverage of the entire tournament.

Frozen Four 2012 Results: Ferris State Bulldogs Advance To Title Game With 3-1 Win Over Union College

As we expected in the two-week-long run-up to this Frozen Four, Thursday's national semifinal between the Union College Dutchmen and the Ferris State Bulldogs was a mostly defensive affair. Both teams battled for chances all game long, and ultimately, it was an uncharacteristic rebound off the leg of Union goaltender Troy Grosenick that gave Ferris State a 2-1 lead en route to a 3-1 victory.

Kyle Bonis backhanded the juicy bounce into the back of the net before Grosenick could get across the crease to make the stop. Bonis' second goal of the game and 20th of the season turned out to be the game-winner, and with 54.8 seconds remaining, Aaron Schmit put home an empty-netter to seal the deal.

Grosenick, solid all game, was perhaps the best player for the Dutchmen. He saved Union's bacon at least once in the third on a Schmit breakaway, but midway through that period, the Bulldogs used a few strong shifts in a row to pin the Dutchmen in their own zone while generating momentum that led to the winning goal.

Union College opened the scoring in the second period when a Greg Coburn point shot was deflected by forward Daniel Carr and past Bulldogs goalie Taylor Nelson. About nine minutes later, Ferris State picked up a power play after Cole Ikkala was called for charging. On the ensusing power play, the Bulldogs evened the score on Bonis' first goal of the game.

Through two periods, Union had controlled the play for much of the game. They seemed the stronger team, creating more chances and winning in the neutral zone more often than not. Things evened out a bit in the third period and ultimately turned Ferris State's way late in the period as Union couldn't get the puck up the ice, floundering under pressure from the Bulldogs. Following the tie-breaking goal, the Dutchmen seemed poised to tie the game yet again, hitting the post at least once in a several-minute-long flurry fueled by several key face off wins.

But in holding off the final Union charge, the Ferris State Bulldogs punched their ticket to the national title game on Saturday night. They'll face either Minnesota or Boston College.

For complete coverage of the entire NCAA men's ice hockey tournament, check out our 2012 Frozen Four StoryStream.

PHOTO: Union College Students Gather On Campus For 2012 Frozen Four

Frozen Four 2012, Boston College Vs. Minnesota: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Boston College Eagles hockey team may be the favorites at the 2012 Frozen Four, but that doesn't mean they're guaranteed victory. The Minnesota Golden Gophers, a worthy foe, will try to keep down the potent BC attack in their attempt to seal the upset and advance to Saturday's national championship game.

No. 2 Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. No. 1 Boston College Eagles
Thursday, April 5, 8 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN 2
Tampa Bay Times Forum, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Full Gophers coverage: SB Nation Minnesota, The Daily Gopher
Full Eagles coverage: SB Nation Boston, BC Interruption

Both teams have strong offenses led by incredible depth. The Eagles feature eight forwards who finished the season with 25 points, and the Gophers finished just one behind with seven 25-point scorers.

Boston College hasn't lost in their last 17 attempts, winning both the Hockey East regular season and tournament titles. Minnesota finished atop the WCHA in the regular season, finishing with a 28-13-1 overall record. They beat Alaska-Anchorage in the WCHA tournament before falling to North Dakota in the WCHA Final Five. The winner of Thursday's national semifinal will advance to the national championship against either Ferris State or Union.

For more on the 2012 Frozen Four and full coverage of the entire NCAA hockey tournament, stick with our StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012, Union College Vs. Ferris State: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

It may be the "under card" on the first day of the 2012 Frozen Four, but when the Union College Dutchmen and Ferris State Bulldogs take to the ice at the Tampa Bay Times Forum on Thursday afternoon, they'll certainly look like two clubs that deserve the spotlight.

No. 3 Ferris State Bulldogs vs. No. 1 Union College Dutchmen
Thursday, April 5, 4:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPNU
Tampa Bay Times Forum, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Combined, the Dutchmen and Bulldogs have lost five games since the calendar turned to 2012. Ferris State compiled that record in the tough CCHA, winning the regular season title over such teams as Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Miami and Notre Dame. Union won both the regular season and tournament titles in ECAC Hockey and carry a seven-game win streak into the Frozen Four.

Check out a full preview of Union vs. Ferris State.

The winner of Thursday's opening game will take on the winner of the national semifinal between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Boston College Eagles. That game faces off at 8 p.m. ET Thursday. For more on the 2012 Frozen Four, stay tuned to our StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012: Chris Kreider Faces Tough Decision Once Boston College Season Ends

Boston College Hockey A Worthy Favorite At 2012 Frozen Four

Boston College has been the 2012 Frozen Four favorite since the puck dropped on the season in October, but that certainly doesn't mean they're guaranteed the title in Tampa.

Frozen Four 2012 Preview: Union Vs. Ferris State Showdown Will Hinge On Defense

It's easy to look at the two Frozen Four 2012 semifinal matchups and think one is better than the other.

One semifinal features two of the biggest names in college hockey, Boston College and Minnesota, with nine national titles between them. The other features two teams with zero national titles and zero NHL draft picks, and it's been pushed off to one of the many teritary arms of the ESPN broadcast empire as a result.

But those who scoff at the lack of name recognition between the Union College Dutchmen and Ferris State Bulldogs are missing out on a defensive battle between two teams that won regular season titles in their respective conferences. This is not a flukey by-product of the single-elimination format: Both teams have lost a combined total of five games in 2012, and both squads are serious contenders to take home their first national championship.

No. 3 Ferris State Bulldogs vs. No. 1 Union College Dutchmen
Thursday, April 5, 4:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPNU
Tampa Bay Times Forum, St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Road to Tampa for both Union and Ferris State mirror one another quite a bit, and it's all thanks to solid goaltending. Dutchmen goalie Troy Grosenick was a Hobey Baker Award finalist with a 1.64 goals against average, and Bulldogs netminder Taylor Nelson was a first-team All-CCHA selection. Perched behind two top-five defenses, it's no surprise that only Massachusetts-Lowell were able to put more than a goal by these two teams in the regional round of the tournament.

Offensively, however, the two teams take different routes to get goals. The Bulldogs don't score as often as Union, averaging .62 fewer goals per game, but they're able to utilize their depth well. Senior Jordie Johnston leads the CCHA regular season champs with 20 goals, and Ferris State has the ability to get goals from throughout the lineup.

Jeremy Welsh, who scored 27 goals for Union this year, leads the ECAC champs along with Kelly Zajac, the brother of New Jersey Devils' forward Travis. Welsh has a five-game goal scoring streak going and leads a dangerous top line that the Bulldogs will need to stop. They were able to stop Denver's potent top line, so it will be interesting to see if Ferris State can repeat the performance.

In the end, this game will come down to defense. Whether it's the team with a hotter goaltender or Ferris State's elite PK going against the Dutchmen's top-5 power play (at 24.8%), whoever advances to the national championship will have relied on their bread and butter. The Bulldogs need to get a team effort to win another low-scoring game and stop Union's offense but they'll have to contend with a tough defense and top goalie.

For more on the 2012 Frozen Four and full coverage of the entire NCAA hockey tournament, stick with our StoryStream.

Frozen Four 2012 Preview: Boston College Hockey Hopes To Dictate Offensive Pace Vs. Minnesota

Between a dozen goals and two shutouts, something has to give.

After two shutout wins against Air Force and Minnesota Duluth in the Regional Round of the 2012 NCAA men's ice hockey championship, the Boston College Eagles put their 17-game unbeaten streak on the line against the University of Minnesota in the second of two Frozen Four semifinal matchups Thursday.

The Gophers are a worthy challenger, having scored 12 goals in their two wins over Boston University and North Dakota during the earlier portion of the tournament, but they're going to need to continue their momentum against a team that has the power to exploit their weaknesses.

No. 2 Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. No. 1 Boston College Eagles
Thursday, April 5, 8 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN 2
Tampa Bay Times Forum, St. Petersburg, Fla.

Up front, both teams have remarkable depth in their front-nine. Boston College features 8 forwards with more than 25 points -- one more than Minnesota -- and their third line could be the top line at many schools. While the Eagles have the slight edge here, it's worth noting that Minnesota's top line of Kyle Rau (Florida Panthers), Nick Bjugstad (Panthers) and Zach Budish (Nashville Predators) scored just two goals in the first two games, one an empty-netter. If that unit can get back on track, Boston College will have a lot to deal with.

The Gophers' defense has been one of the big surprises this season in college hockey. Defensemen Nate Schmidt has gone from a healthy scratch as a freshman to 40 point scorer, and overall, a blue line featuring one upperclassman has held its own. Minnesota's ninth in the nation with 2.21 goals against per game. That's changed in recent games, as the team has allowed 14 goals in their last four outings. That's been masked by offensive output, but it'll be tough to win that way against the potent Eagles.

The Boston College offense, led by Chris Kreider (New York Rangers) and Barry Almeid, scores an average of 3.5 goals per game, and they put up four goals on reigning champion Minnesota Duluth last Sunday.

Minnesota has a first team All-WCHA goaltender in Kent Patterson (Colorado Avalanche) that has the ability to shut teams out (the senior is tied for the national lead with seven) thanks to strong positional play. The Eagles, meanwhile, trot out Parker Milner, who has been just as outstanding over the last two months with a .935 save percentage. Although neither goalie needs to stand on their head to give their team a chance, they are both capable of doing so.

In the end, something has to give. Whether the two high-scoring offenses cancel each other out or this Frozen Four semifinal becomes a shootout, both Boston College and Minnesota are very similar -- talented all over the ice with balanced offensive depth.

The Eagles have consistent play on their side, while the key for the Gophers will be getting on the board first, as they're 22-7-0 when doing so. They can't let Boston College control the game offensively like they did against Minnesota Duluth in the Regional Final. If they can handle the BC attack, this will be a game worthy of a Frozen Four semifinal.

At the very least, my money's on the Maroon and Gold team.

For more on Boston College hockey, check in with Eagles blog BC Interruption. For more on Minnesota hockey, check in with Gophers blog The Daily Gopher. SB Nation Boston and SB Nation Minnesota provide accompanying coverage, and you can stay on top of the entire tournament with our Frozen Four 2012 StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, Boston College Vs. Minnesota-Duluth: Eagles Headed To Frozen Four

Boston College's hockey team hadn't lost in its last 16 outings heading into their game against Minnesota-Duluth. The team added one to the winning streak on Sunday night, too, and they'll now enter the Frozen Four on a 17-game winning streak.

The Eagles posted a shutout over the defending champions in Worcester, Mass., as goalie Parker Milner stopped all 33 shots he faced in the victory to help advance Boston College to the Frozen Four. Milner's job won't get any easier next time out, though, as Boston College will face the Minnesota Golden Gophers in hopes of advancing to the championship game of the 2012 NCAA hockey tournament.

The game was scoreless following the first period, but Boston College led 2-0 heading into the third behind goals from Pat Mullane and Bill Arnold. Patrick Wey and Gaudreau stuck the daggers in UM-D with a pair of goals in the third period.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, Minnesota Vs. North Dakota: Golden Gophers Upset Sioux, 5-2, For Frozen Four Spot

No. 3 North Dakota had a chance to move on to the Frozen Four for the second straight year. Minnesota ruined it, with a 5-2 win that sent the Fighting Sioux packing and will enable the Golden Gophers to head for warmer climes at the Frozen Four in Tampa.

Travis Boyd, Nate Condon and Taylor Matson all had a goal and an assist for the Gophers, who never trailed and used a three-goal third period to put the Fighting Sioux in their rear view. Kent Patterson made 24 saves on 26 shots to stop the North Dakota offense.

The Sioux got goals from Danny Kristo and Mario Lamoureux, and outshot Minnesota 15-4 in the third period, but could not capitalize on any of their three power plays on the night.

Minnesota moves on to the Frozen Four, where the Golden Gophers will meet either Boston College or Minnesota-Duluth in a national semifinal.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, Cornell Vs. Ferris State: Bulldogs Into Frozen Four With 2-1 Win

The Cornell Big Red and Ferris State Bulldogs played a defensive game in the first two periods. Both goalies played well, but they weren't tested with a high volume of shots and they went into the third period of their regional final scoreless. Then, things exploded with three goals. Ferris State gave up power plays and were significantly out-shot, but made the most of their opportunities in a 2-1 win. They'll be heading to the Frozen Four in Tampa.

Ferris State scored the game's first goal just 11 seconds into the third period on a carryover power play from the second period. Garrett Thompson scored the close-range goal on an empty net, taking advantage of a pass across the face of the net by Jordie Johnston. Matthew Kirzinger picked up the secondary assist.

It took just over one minute for the Big Red to answer through Dustin Mowrey, who leveled the score at 1-1 just 1:32 into the third period, assisted by Kirill Gotovets. Right after the ensuing faceoff, Ferris State's TJ Schlueter picked up a game misconduct penalty, gifting a five-minute power play to the Big Red.

The Bulldogs' penalty kill was spectacular. Cornell did well to move the puck and create shots during the lengthy power play, and they held the zone on attempted clearances over and over, but couldn't convert. Right as the power play expired, the Bulldogs broke out on a rush. Andy Huff, who served the penalty for Schlueter, sprang out of the box and made himself available for a pass. He set up Johnston for the go-ahead goal 6:54 into the period, and it would ultimately be the winner.

It was all Cornell for the remainder of the game, but Taylor Nelson was fantastic, making 11 of his 22 saves in the third period. His best — a fantastic glove save on Sean Collins — came with just over a minute remaining. Cornell couldn't get an opportunity better than that one as Ferris State held on to book a trip to the Frozen Four.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, UMass-Lowell Vs. Union: Dutchmen Fly To Frozen Four With 4-2 Win

One night after knocking off collegiate hockey power Michigan State, the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks looked to finish an unlikely run to the Frozen Four. The No. 3 Union (N.Y.) Dutchmen had another idea, and never trailed in their 4-2 Second Round victory that punched their ticket to Tampa.

Josh Jooris and Kyle Bodie each had a goal and an assist — Bodie put his in on an empty net — as the Dutchmen dominated throughout. They took 39 shots to UMass-Lowell's 21, and held the lead from Daniel Ciampini's goal just 3:03 into the first period until the final horn.

Terrence Wallin and Matt Ferriera each scored for the Riverhawks, but Union's Troy Grosenick had to make just three saves after Ferreira's third period goal narrowed the Dutchmen's advantage to 3-2.

Union moves on to the Frozen Four, where it will take on either Cornell or Ferris State on Thursday, April 5 in Tampa.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Cornell Stuns Michigan, UMass-Lowell Upsets Miami On Day 1

The 2012 NCAA hockey tournament started up Friday with four games in two of the regionals. It didn't take terribly long before we saw the first upset of the tournament. And the second.

After high seeds won opening games in Bridgeport, Conn., and Green Bay, Wisc., the second game of the East Regional produced a scintillating comeback and an upset. Then the Midwest Regional's second game produced an even bigger one, as Cornell took down mighty Michigan 3-2 in overtime.

Regional top seed Michigan scored early in the first period, as captain Luke Glendening gave the Wolverines a 1-0 lead. A second goal by Kevin Lynch was waived off before 90 seconds had elapsed in the first, as the officials ruled Cornell goalie Andy Iles had been interfered with.

The Big Red were buoyed by that call, outplaying Michigan for a good chunk of the game. The Wolverines were frustrated by Cornell, which was content to keep the game slow. Cornell carried a 2-1 lead into the final five minutes, but Lynch tied it on a rebound, and the game went into overtime.

In overtime, a great rush by Cornell led to a huge save by Michigan goalie and Hobey Baker finalist Shawn Hunwick. Unfortunately for Hunwick, he couldn't control the puck as he sprawled from right to left to make the initial save. Rodger Craig of Cornell came across the slot and banged the rebound into a largely empty net, giving Cornell the great upset win.

Were it not for a win in the ECAC Tournament third-place game last week, Cornell would have likely missed the tournament completely. Now, the Big Red are a win away from the Frozen Four in Tampa.

In the East Regional, No. 3-seeded UMass-Lowell took a 3-0 lead over No. 2-seeded Miami in the second period, but the River Hawks couldn't add to or hold the lead. Instead, Miami rallied with three goals in the third period -- two of them just 14 seconds apart -- and forced overtime. The RedHawks also carried a five-minute major power play into overtime.

After UML shut down the power play, the River Hawks got the winning goal from Riley Wetmore, his second of the game, for the 4-3 upset win. UML outshot Miami 3-0 in the overtime after Miami outshot the River Hawks 18-8 in the third period.

UMass-Lowell (24-12-1) moves into the regional final Saturday against Union (N.Y.), which beat Michigan State 3-1 in the first game Friday. The top-seeded Dutchmen won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time in school history.

In the Midwest Regional's first game, Ferris State (Mich.) beat Denver 2-1. The Bulldogs got goals from Jordie Johnston and Simon Denis, and after missing last week's CCHA semifinals in Detroit, Ferris looked like the fresher team for a chunk of the third period. Ferris had the week off while the Pioneers played three games in three days -- one of which went two overtimes -- at the WCHA Final Five.

No. 2-seeded Ferris State advanced to the regional final Saturday against Cornell.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012, Northeast Region Preview: Nation's Best Battle In Worcester

It's safe to say the Northeast region is not lacking talent. Besides Worcester featuring both the top team in the country, Boston College, and the defending national champion in Minnesota Duluth, each of the four schools playing this weekend have one of the 10 Hobey Baker nominees. It wouldn't be surprising to see at least two of them among the three Hobey finalists.

THE GAMES

No. 1 Boston College Eagles (29-10-1) v. No. 4 Air Force Falcons (21-10-7)
Saturday, March 24, 4 p.m. ET | TV: ESPNU
More Coverage: SB Nation Boston, Eagles blog BC Interruption

No. 2 Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (24-9-6) vs. No. 3 Maine Black Bears (23-13-3)
Saturday, March 24, 7:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN3.com, FS North+

The regional final will be played at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 25.

All games at DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Boston College and Air Force received automatic berths as the Hockey East and Atlantic Hockey tournament champions, respectively. Minnesota Duluth earned an at-large bid after finishing second in the WCHA during the regular season and losing to Denver in the semifinals of WCHA conference tournament. Maine finished fourth in Hockey East but were the conference tournament runners-up, defeating Boston University, 5-3, on Friday before losing to BC, 4-1, on Saturday night.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Boston College: A trio of juniors -- No. 19, F Chris Kreider (New York Rangers); No. 35, G Parker Milner; and No. 2, D Brian Dumoulin (Carolina Hurricanes and a Hobey Baker finalist). The Eagles also have received 40 points from freshman No. 13, F Johnny Gaudreau (Calgary Flames).

Minnesota Duluth: No. 12, F Jack Connolly (a Hobey Baker finalist); No. 23, F J.T. Brown; No. 2, D Brady Lamb; and No. 17, F Mike Seidel.

Maine: No. 10, F Brian Flynn; No. 27, D Will O'Neill (Winnipeg Jets); No. 39, F Joey Diamond; and (provided he plays) No. 13, F Spencer Abbott (a Hobey Baker finalist).

Air Force: No. 27, F John Kruse; No. 25, D Tim Kirby (a Hobey Baker finalist); No. 9, Kyle De Laurell; and No. 29, G Jason Torf.

TEAM PREVIEWS

• Minnesota Duluth seeking back-to-back national titles.
• Maine could be without the top scorer in the country.
• Boston College will be disappointed without a trip to Tampa.
• Air Force is thinking upset.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Minnesota Duluth Ready For Another National Title

Minnesota Duluth may have lost three of its better offensive weapons from last season's National Championship team in Mike Connolly (Colorado Avalanche), Justin Faulk (Carolina Hurricanes) and Justin Fontaine (Minnesota Wild), but the Bulldogs have done a fine job of reloading.

Averaging a nation-leading 3.64 goals/game, Jack Connolly, Travis Oleksuk and J.T. Brown have each scored more than 45 points. UMD boasts two scoring lines that could easily substitute the top line on any team in the nation.

The Bulldogs head East for the second consecutive year, and although Minnesota Duluth hasn't played lately with the same consistency that they had during a 17-game unbeaten streak from October to January, the defending national champions know how to get hot at the right time. Even in defeat during the WCHA Final Five, the Bulldogs came back a 3-0 deficit and put 71 shots on goal in a 4-3 double-overtime loss.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Maine Could Be Without Nation's Top Scorer

It's been five years since the Maine Black Bears, one of college hockey's perennial powers, have seen the NCAA tournament, but now they're back with a bang.

Led by the top three scorers in Hockey East, Spencer Abbott, Joey Diamond and Brian Flynn, Maine has the firepower to match its first-round opponent, 2011 National Champion Minnesota Duluth. The Maine power play ranked second in the nation behind Harvard this season, converting at an impressive 26.9 percent mark.

The only question is whether or not they will have Abbott. College hockey's leading scorer (20 goals and 41 assists for 61 points) was injured after taking an elbow to the head in the third period of Maine's 5-3 Hockey East semifinal win over Boston University. He missed the loss in the conference final to Boston College and is listed as questionable for the opening weekend of the NCAA's.

The Black Bears are still a good team without Abbott, but it's tough to win a game or two without your leading scorer.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Air Force Has Upset On The Mind

While the Boston College Eagles relish their No. 1 overall seed, the Air Force Falcons have upset on the mind.

In 2009, the Falcons entered the tournament as the Atlantic Hockey champion and upset No. 1 seed Michigan before falling in overtime to Vermont later in the tournament. They've also come close to knocking off Minnesota and Miami as a No. 4 seed in the past, so it's hard to take them lightly.

Thats the modus operandi of these Atlantic Hockey champions. Rochester Institute of Technology advanced to the Frozen Four in 2010 after winning the conference and shocking both Denver and New Hampshire in the regional round. Air Force is in their sixth NCAA tournament in seven years.

For more on Air Force's first round matchup with Boston College, check in with SB Nation Boston. For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Boston College Will Be Disappointed Without Winning Northeast

There's no debate that Boston College enters the NCAA Tournament as the odds-on favorite. While teams get hot at this time of the year and look to carry momentum from conference tournaments, the Eagles have not lost since Jan. 21 when Maine topped them 7-4. That's a stretch of 15 games, in which they've won the Beanpot, the Hockey East regular season championship and their third-consecutive conference tournament.

With the streak and their regional only a stone's away from Chestnut Hill in Worcester, a site that's been the start of BC's last three national championships, anything less than punching a ticket to Tampa will be seen as a disappointment for Boston College. That's especially true after being upset in the first round by Colorado College last season.

For more from the Boston College perspective, check in with SB Nation Boston and Eagles blog BC Interruption. For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012, Midwest Region Preview: Goaltending Key To Earning Tampa Trip

While the Northeast Region has talented individuals with four of the 10 Hobey Baker nominees, the Midwest Region has its share of top goaltenders. Between Michigan's Shawn Hunwick (who coincidentally is also a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award), Cornell's Andy Iles, Ferris State's Taylor Nelson and C.J. Motte and Denver's three-headed monster of Sam Brittain, Juho Olkinuora and Adam Murray.

THE GAMES

No. 1 Michigan Wolverines (24-12-4) vs. No. 4 Cornell Big Red (18-8-7)
Friday, March 23, 9 p.m. ET | TV: ESPNU
More Coverage: Wolverines blog Maize n Brew, SB Nation Detroit

No. 2 Ferris State Bulldogs (23-11-5) vs. No. 3 Denver Pioneers (25-13-4)
Friday, March 23, 5:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN3.com, Altitude
More Coverage: SB Nation Denver

HOW THEY GOT HERE

All four teams received at-large bids. Michigan finished second in both the CCHA regular season and tournament, where they lost to Western Michigan. Denver finished third in the WCHA behind Minnesota and Minnesota Duluth during the regular season and were the runners-up to North Dakota in the conference tournament. Ferris State won the CCHA regular season over the Wolverines but was upset by Bowling Green in the first round of the CCHA conference tournament. Finally, Cornell was the second-best ECAC team in the regular season and won the third-place game in the conference tournament.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Michigan: No. 31, G Shawn Hunwick; No. 24, D Jon Merrill (New Jersey); No. 10, F Chris Brown (Phoenix Coyotes); and No. 7, F Phil Di Giuseppe (2012 NHL Draft Eligible)
• Denver: No. 1, G Sam Brittain (Florida); No. 15, F Drew Shore (Florida); No. 18, F Luke Salazzar; and No. 21, D Joey LaLeggia
• Ferris State: No. 29, G Taylor Nelson; No. 11, F Jordie Johnston; No. 4, D Chad Billins; and No. 28, F Kyle Bonis
• Cornell: No. 33, G Andy Iles; No. 16, F Greg Miller; No. 12, F Sean Collins; and No. 6, D Nick D'Agostino

TEAM PREVIEWS

• Cornell needs strong defense to prevail.
• Michigan has an upper-hand in goalie Shawn Hunwick.
• Ferris State had a disappointing CCHA tourney, and they hope to return to form.
• Denver has injury questions heading into the tournament.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Cornell's Strong Defense Hopes To Shut Down Michigan

The Cornell Big Red know a thing or two about shutting teams down. Goaltender Andy Iles had a stretch earlier in the season where he and his defense held their opponents without a goal in five of six games. The team earned their berth in the NCAA tournament with a 3-0 shutout win over Colgate in the ECAC Hockey third-place game in Atlantic City.

The Big Red are also no stranger to overtime, with half of their last 20 games going to the extra session. That could pay off if Iles and the Cornell defense -- which have held opponents to under three goals in nine of their last 10 games -- can keep things close Friday against potent Michigan.

SB Nation Detroit has more coverage of Cornell's first round game vs. the Wolverines. For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Denver Has Injury Questions Entering First Round

The Denver Pioneers were one of the preseason favorites in the WCHA, and they've been in the mix all season despite having key players battling injuries. The Pioneers spent the first half of the year without starting goalie Sam Brittain (Florida Panthers), and sophomore Beau Bennett (Pittsburgh Penguins) only played ten games before having to undergo wrist surgery.

Regardless, Denver has continued to overcome adversity and has been clutch when it matters the most, winning three straight games in overtime during its WCHA conference tournament run. While most teams would struggle without their starting goalie, the Pioneers blossomed with both Adam Murray and Juho Olkinuora holding their own in the net. That has continued with Brittain's return, as all three goalies have played more than 10 games and have a save percentage of over 90 percent. George Gwozdecky used all three in the conference tournament in a stretch that saw the team play six games in nine days.

The good news for Denver is that it appears that Bennett will be returning for the NCAA Tournament, but the team may be without another one of its core players in forward Jason Zucker (Minnesota Wild). Zucker scored twice in the WCHA Final Five but ended up leaving Saturday's championship game with an upper body injury. Right now he is day-to-day, but if the Pioneers miss Zucker and are shorthanded defensively, it will be tougher for the team to get to Tampa.

For more, visit SB Nation Denver. For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Ferris State Hopes To Return To Form After Disappointing CCHA Tourney

The Ferris State Bulldogs have been sitting at home since March 11, so whether or not the time off is a help or hindrance will be interesting to see. The Bulldogs were upset by last-place Bowling Green at home in the CCHA quarterfinals after beating them 5-1 and 4-1 just a few weeks earlier

But while they've lost three of their last four games, those are the only three games Ferris State have lost in 2012.

CCHA Coach of the Year Bob Daniels' team has been winning with defense, and a big reason for their success is the two-headed monster of goalies, Taylor Nelson and C.J. Motte. Nelson has been the more successful of the two, winning nearly three-fourths of his games, but with both goalies having a .920 save percentage or better the Bulldogs have a team that can get hot at the right time.

They stand to stop a Denver Pioneers team which features one of the better offenses in the nation.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Michigan Has Big Edge In Goalie Shawn Hunwick

Last year's NCAA tournament runner-up, the Michigan Wolverines, once again find themselves as the second-best team in college hockey -- only this time, it's to begin the tournament.

The Wolverines began the season slow, trading wins and losses before a seven-game losing streak in November saw coach Red Berenson's team hit rock bottom. They've found their way since then, only losing four times and getting back one of the best defensemen in the country in sophomore Jon Merrill (New Jersey Devils). However, that's not the only reason for their success, as they get it done on both ends of the ice.

Michigan is fourth in the country with 2.15 goals per game and have only allowed more than three goals in a game once since November. A big reason for that is Shawn Hunwick, who after guiding the Wolverines to three wins in the NCAA Tournament last season continues to stand tall between the pipes. He enters this year's Tournament in the top-five for almost every major goaltending category and has played in all but one game this year for Michigan.

Offensively, the Wolverines average over a goal more than they give up (3.25 goals per game) and rely on a balanced attack. Four Michigan players, including David Wohlberg (New Jersey) and Alex Guptill (Dallas Stars), have scored more than 30 points, and eight have topped 20 this season. With so many options, teams are going to have their hands full trying to pick and choose who to focus.

For more on Michigan, check in with Wolverines blog Maize n Brew and SB Nation Detroit. For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012, East Region Preview: Lack Of Name Recognition Doesn't Mean Lack Of Intrigue

The East Region of the 2012 NCAA hockey tournament lacks the recognition that its brother regions have. Sure, three of the four teams have Hobey Baker nominees, but Michigan State easily has the biggest fanbase -- and they're the fourth seed playing hundreds of miles away from East Lansing.

Miami and Massachusetts-Lowell aren't exactly the biggest schools in the world, and the same can be said for Union, who have flown under the radar even in devout college hockey circles this season despite how well they've played.

THE GAMES

No. 1 Union Dutchmen (24-7-7) vs. No. 4 Michigan State Spartans (19-15-4)
Friday, March 23, 3 p.m. ET | TV: ESPNU
More Coverage: Spartans blog The Only Colors, SB Nation Detroit

No. 2 Miami RedHawks (24-12-2) vs. No. 3 UMass-Lowell River Hawks (23-14-1)
Friday March 23, 6:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPNU

The regional final is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24.

All games at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Union received an automatic bid as the ECAC tournament champion. Miami received an at-large bid after finishing fourth in the CCHA regular season. Massachusetts-Lowell was upset in the first round of the Hockey East tournament by Providence but received an at-large bid after ending the regular season tied for second with Boston University. Michigan State finished fifth in the CCHA and earned an at-large bid despite being swept by Miami in the conference tournament.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• Union: No. 27, F Jeremy Welsh; No. 19, F Kelly Zajac; No. 1, G Troy Grosenick; No. 22, Mat Bodie
• Miami: No. 18, F Reilly Smith (Dallas); No. 4, D Will Weber (Columbus Blue Jackets); No. 7, F Austin Czarnik; No. 31, G Connor Knapp (Buffalo Sabres)
• Massachusetts-Lowell: No. 23, F Scott Wilson (Pittsburgh Penguins); No. 29, F Derek Arnold; No. 16, F Riley Wetmore; No. 31, G Doug Carr
• Michigan State: No. 44, D Torey Krug; No. 11, F Brett Perlini (Anaheim Ducks); No. 22, F Lee Reimer; No. 27, F Matt Berry

TEAM PREVIEWS

• Union College hopes to bring ECAC Hockey it's first national title since 1989.
• Michigan State has taken the back roads to the NCAA Tournament.
• Miami hopes to put their CCHA Tournament loss in the rearview mirror.
• UMass-Lowell faces a tough first round matchup vs. the RedHawks.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: UMass Lowell Faces Tough First Round Matchup

It's a tall order for Massachusetts-Lowell in their first round NCAA Tournament matchup against the Miami RedHawks, but the similarly-named River Hawks have played well under first-year head coach Norm Bazin. Before Providence College upset them in three games during the Hockey East tournament quarterfinals, UML went 3-1-1 in their final five regular season games and defeated Boston University on the road. They've had the last week and a half to think about that loss to the Friars and how they come out in the first period will tell if they've left it in the back of their minds.

The River Hawks are led up front by a first line of Scott Wilson, Derek Arnold and Riley Wetmore. Wilson and Arnold each have 37 points but Massachusetts-Lowell may be without Wetmore vs. Miami. He was less than 100 percent in the Providence series -- to the point where Bazin admitted he shouldn't have played -- and appears to have a broken hand.

That could affect UML as while they have forward depth, the team still depends on scoring from its top line. But question mark or not, the River Hawks are not a team that can be held in check often and should pose a threat to Miami's strong defense.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Miami Hopes To Put CCHA Tournament Loss In Rear View

The Miami RedHawks are one of the more intriguing teams in the NCAA Tournament. Winners of nine of their last 10 games, the RedHawks won eight games in a row before falling to eventual CCHA champion Western Michigan in the conference tournament.

They looked out of place in the 6-2 loss, and nothing like the national title contender they once threatened to be, but it's possible that loss was simply an anomaly, and the No. 2 seed cannot be taken lightly.

Miami's led by junior Reilly Smith (Dallas Stars), who is second in college hockey with 30 goals in 38 games. Smith is known for his offensive prowess but is also counted on to kill penalties and has good defensive instincts. Miami has a pair of freshmen forwards that give opposing defenses havoc in Austin Czarnik and Tyler Biggs (Toronto Maple Leafs).

Where the team shines, meanwhile, is on defense. With defensemen like Cameron Schilling and two of the top goalies in Connor Knapp and Cody Reichard, Miami's the second-best club in the nation in terms of goals against per game. Knapp in particular sports an impressive with a .937 save percentage and has only allowed an astonishing 1.58 goals per game.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Michigan State Backs In To East Region

Michigan State is getting its chance at a national title through the back door. The Spartans were destroyed by Miami 6-0 and 4-1 in their last games of the season and spent the final weekend of conference tournament season on the couch hoping to see the Pairwise Rankings shake out in their favor

They did -- the club owes Western Michigan a fruit basket for winning the CCHA title -- and now that they're in the tournament, they will try to be the Spartans who won eight of 10 games in November, not the team that stumbled down the stretch.

Junior defenseman Torey Krug leads MSU in points (37) and goals (12). A two-time All-CCHA first team player and best offensive defenseman winner, Krug can do it all. The Hobey Baker nominee is on the smaller side at 5'9, but his size hasn't stopped him from being depended on to protect leads and play shutdown defense. His plus-18 rating is eighth in the nation despite averaging close to 30 minutes a game.

If Michigan State is going to beat top-seeded Union, they're going to need Krug and his defense at their best after getting lit up the last time out.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Union Hopes To Bring ECAC First National Title Since 1989

The Union College Dutchmen won the ECAC Hockey regular season and tournament titles, and they're in the NCAA Tournament to prove their conference is no cupcake. With the No. 1 seed in the East Region, they're favored in their first-round matchup against a much more recognizable school, Michigan State.

Union has the fewest losses out of any of the 16 teams in this year's tournament, however, that might be a misleading stat as they've only beaten one team -- the Michigan Wolverines -- that's still alive. The Dutchmen tied Western Michigan (twice) and lost to both Cornell and Denver this season, and that win over the Wolverines was in the midst of a seven-game losing streak.

If anything, it's stats like those which go to show how important this weekend is for Union. The ECAC has good teams, but not at the same consistency as the WCHA, Hockey East and CCHA have. The conference hasn't seen a national champion since 1989, and with a No. 1 seed in Union that has good offensive and defensive stats (3.55 goals for per game vs. 1.85 goals against per game), it's intriguing to see if the Dutchmen are the real deal.

They are led up front by senior Kelly Zajac (brother of New Jersey Devils forward Travis) and junior Jeremy Welsh. Welsh, the ECAC Tournament MVP, finished the year second in the conference with 25 goals, and he's not afraid to put them up in bunches, netting five multi-goal games and a hat trick this year. In net for Union is sophomore goalie and Hobey Baker nominee Troy Grosenick, who is third in the nation with a .931 save percentage in 31 games.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012, West Region Preview: This Would Be The 'Region Of Death'

The Northeast region has talented players, the Midwest region has solid goaltending and the East region has an intriguing first-round series, but the West region features all three. With two conference tournament winners, a regular season champion playing nine miles from campus and a team that spent most of the season in the top five, it's safe to say this is the "region of death." Any of the four teams in the West Region could end up in Tampa and it wouldn't be shocking.

THE GAMES

No. 1 North Dakota Fighting Sioux (25-12-3) vs. No. 4 Western Michigan Broncos (21-13-6)
Saturday, March 24, 1:30 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN3.com, FS North

No. 2 Minnesota Golden Gophers (26-13-1) vs. No. 3 Boston University Terriers (23-14-1)
Saturday, March 24, 5 p.m. ET | TV: ESPN3.com, FS North+, NESN
More Coverage: The Daily Gopher, SB Nation Minnesota

The regional final is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 25.

All games at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.

HOW THEY GOT HERE

North Dakota and Western Michigan won automatic bids as WCHA and CCHA tournament champions, respectively. Minnesota won the WCHA regular season title but lost to UND in the WCHA Final Five semifinals to receive an at-large bid. Boston University received an at-large bid after finishing second in Hockey East during the regular season and losing to Maine in the conference tournament.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

• North Dakota: No. 29, F Brock Nelson (New York Islanders), No. 7, F Danny Kristo (Montreal Canadiens), No. 32, G Aaron Dell, and No. 4, D Derek Forbort (Los Angeles Kings)
• Minnesota: No. 27, F Nick Bjugstad (Florida Panthers); No. 19, F Erik Haula (Minnesota Wild); No. 29, D Nate Schmidt; and No. 35, G Kent Patterson (Colorado Avalanche)
• Boston University: No. 9 F Alex Chiasson (Dallas Stars); No. 5, D Adam Cleandening (Chicago Blackhawks); No. 31, G Kieran Millan (Colorado); No. 17, F Matt Nieto (San Jose Sharks)
• Western Michigan: No. 16, F Chase Balisy (Nashville Predators); No. 5, D Danny DeKeyser; No. 7, D Matt Tennyson; No. 1, G Frank Slubowski

TEAM PREVIEWS

• Boston University hasn't let off-ice issues distract them.
• Minnesota carried by potent offensive attack.
• Western Michigan's not your typical No. 4 seed.
• North Dakota has overcome injuries and adversity to earn the No. 1 seed in the West.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Boston University Hasn't Let Off-Ice Issues Distract On-Ice Play

Boston University is no stranger to overcoming adversity, and the Terriers would love nothing better than making sure of that. The Terriers have dealt with off-ice distractions all year -- two players were charged with sexual assault and one of their better forwards left the team midseason to play Juniors in Canada -- but they haven't let them affect their on-ice play. BU made it all the way to the Hockey East semifinals before falling to Maine.

BU, like first-round opponent Minnesota, does not rely on one player or line to score, but they're led by junior forwards Alex Chiasson (Dallas Stars) and Wade Megan (Florida Panthers). Chiasson has really stepped up lately, scoring six points in the last four games while Matt Nieto (San Jose Sharks) scored twice against Maine.

In addition, senior goalie Kieran Millan (Colorado Avalanche) has played his best season since winning a national title with the Terriers in 2009. Having a hot goaltender is very important in a single-elimination tournament and Millan has the experience of shining in one.

Boston University hasn't had the same consistency during the second half that they enjoyed in the first-half, and it's tough to know how BU will respond on the road after losing to Maine in Boston. They do have the advantage of knowing that Minnesota has struggled against Hockey East teams this season.

Regardless of what happens, this No. 8 vs No. 9 overall match-up between Minnesota and the Terriers will be one of the better games to watch in the opening weekend of the NCAA hockey tournament.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Minnesota Carried Into West Regional By Potent Offense

Minnesota returns to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2008 with a team that has lived up to the high expectations of its fan base. The Gophers' offensive success this year has come from their depth: Minnesota is tied with Minnesota Duluth for the most goals in college hockey with 142 and has six different players who scored more than 30 points and 10 goals. They have three lines that can consistently score.

The leader has been sophomore Nick Bjugstad (Florida Panthers) who leads the team with 24 goals. He's been the catalyst of a line with freshman Kyle Rau (Florida) and redshirt sophomore Zach Budish (Nashville Predators). All three players have exceeded their expectations and pace the Gophers' attack.

In net, senior Kent Patterson (Colorado Avalanche) has played nearly every minute for the team. He's come into his own this season, leading the nation with seven shutouts, but has also had his share of disappointing performances. Their last game against North Dakota in St. Paul saw Minnesota and Patterson give up six goals in a 25 minute stretch and was nothing short of embarrassing.

Although they've been great at overcoming adversity and playing better as the weekend goes on (the Gophers are 16-3-1 on Saturdays this season), that doesn't matter in a single-elimination tournament. As much as the team would love to face North Dakota (who they are 3-2-0 against this season) in the West Regional final, especially after how their last game ended, Minnesota can't think too far ahead.

Get local coverage from SB Nation Minnesota and Gopher-centric coverage from The Daily Gopher. For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Western Michigan Not The Typical No. 4 Seed

North Dakota may be the No. 1 seed in the West region, but Western Michigan is no ordinary fourth seed. The Broncos have been hot as well lately and in order to find themselves in the NCAA Tournament, they had to beat three of the other four CCHA teams that have made it this far. That includes both Miami and Michigan on back-to-back nights during the final weekend of the CCHA Tournament.

WMU's success has fully revolved around their defensive game. The entire blueline, led by top NCAA free agency candidate Danny DeKeyser, has been solid, and freshman goalie Frank Slubowski has been nothing but impressive behind them.

They shut down a powerful Miami RedHawks top six in the conference tournament, and their own offense, led by the top line of Shane Berschbach, Chase Balisy (Nashville Predators) and Dane Walters has scored 21 goals in their last five games. Western Michigan may not have the collective talent or NHL draft picks of a team like North Dakota, but they've proven that they can hang with and even beat those teams.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: North Dakota Overcomes Adversity To Earn No. 1 Seed

Like clockwork, North Dakota Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol has his team playing their best hockey entering the NCAA Tournament.

The Sioux, who won the WCHA Final Five with a victory over regular-season champion Minnesota, were at one point 11th in the conference and struggling with both injuries and defections. Despite only suiting up 19 players late in the year, the Sioux finished fourth in the regular season and have now won seven straight games en route to their third consecutive Broadmoor Trophy.

Up front, North Dakota has relied on their high-powered first line of Brock Nelson (New York Islanders), Corban Knight (Florida Panthers) and Danny Kristo (Montreal Canadiens). Nelson has shined particularly bright as the season has gone on, scoring four goals in three games last weekend with another waived off, and 27 on the season.

Aaron Dell has been hot lately in goal. During the WCHA Final Five he out-dueled St. Cloud State's Mike Lee (Phoenix Coyotes), kept UND in the game against Minnesota when the offense was non-existent, and shut out a powerful Denver team to earn the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award. Between the offense clicking and solid goaltending, it could take an effort similar to the one Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick put in last year against the Sioux to send them home.

Then again, it's safe to say the Fighting Sioux, as the fourth of four No. 1 seeds, have the toughest route to Tampa of the group -- even if the Twin Cities would be full of UND fans. Their reward for winning the WCHA conference tournament in St. Paul is more games at the Xcel Energy Center, with the chance to face both the CCHA winner and the host team, Minnesota, who will be looking for revenge.

It's not the first time a No. 1 seed has been sent to another team's home (Minnesota was sent to Grand Forks as the No. 2 overall seed in 2006, faced Air Force in 2007 in Denver as the No. 1 team and North Dakota faced Wisconsin in Madison as the No. 3 overall seed in 2008.)

If North Dakota gets to Tampa, they'll have proven themselves.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, East Regional: Union, Massachusetts-Lowell Could See Strong Fan Support In Bridgeport

The 2012 NCAA hockey tournament kicks off Friday, March 23, and the first game will feature the top seed in the East Regional. Union College is the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament, and they'll be the on-paper favorites to come out of the East, where games are being played at Webster Bank Arena in Bridgeport, Conn.

• No. 1 Union
• No. 2 Miami
• No. 3 Massachusetts-Lowell
• No. 4 Michigan State

Union and Michigan State do battle at 3 p.m. ET March 23. The ECAC champion Dutchmen could have strong fan support, considering it's a less-than-three-hour drive from campus in Schenectady, N.Y., to Bridgeport. UMass-Lowell is in the same boat -- just two hours, 45 minutes away -- and could see substantial support in the crowd during their game against the Miami Redhawks. That game will be played at 6:30 p.m. March 23. Both can be seen on ESPNU.

The winners will do battle Saturday, March 24, at 6:30 p.m.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, West Regional: Minnesota Gets Home Crowd, But Tough Draw Vs. Boston University

The 2012 NCAA hockey tournament will commence on Friday, March 23, but games in the West Regional won't begin until the following day. They'll be played at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., and as host, the Minnesota Golden Gophers have the right to play in front of their home crowd.

• No. 1 North Dakota
• No. 2 Minnesota
• No. 3 Boston University
• No. 4 Western Michigan

It could be called the region of death. North Dakota finished fourth in the Pairwise while Minnesota finished eighth, but it's a pretty unfortunate draw for the Gophers in pulling Boston University, who finished fourth in the PWR. It balances the luxury of playing in front of what will surely be a large, supportive crowd in an NHL building.

CCHA tournament champion Western Michigan could carry over that success into the NCAA's despite their position as a four-seed, but they'll have to beat North Dakota on Saturday, March 24, at 1:30 p.m. ET if they want the chance to move on to the West Regional final. Later that day at 5 p.m., Minnesota will take on the Terriers of BU.

The two winners will meet in the regional final the following day, Sunday, March 25, at 5:30 p.m. ET.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, Midwest Regional: Green Bay To Host Michigan, Ferris State, Denver, Cornell

The Midwest Regional of the 2012 NCAA hockey tournament will be at Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis., and the Michigan Wolverines, the No. 2 overall seed in the entire tournament, will lead that corner of the bracket. The four teams in the region are:

• No. 1 Michigan
• No. 2 Ferris State
• No. 3 Denver
• No. 4 Cornell

Both first-round games in the Midwest region will be played Friday, March 23. Ferris State will battle Denver at 5:30 p.m. ET, followed by Michigan vs. Cornell at 9 p.m. Both games can be seen on ESPN3.com. Michigan might be the higher-ranked team at present, but Ferris State reached the No. 1 spot in the country at points this season. The Bulldogs finished the year No. 6 in the Pairwise.

The winners of each game will battle in the Midwest Regional Final the following day, Saturday, March 24, at 9 p.m. ET.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Bracket 2012, Northeast Regional: BC, UMD, Maine, Air Force To Battle In Worcester

The 2012 NCAA hockey bracket was unveiled on Sunday, and the both the No. 1 overall seed and the defending national champion will battle in the Northeast Regional. DCU Center in Worcester, Mass. hosts the first and second rounds on March 23 and 24 for these four teams:

• No. 1 Boston College
• No. 2 Minnesota Duluth
• No. 3 Maine
• No. 4 Air Force

The top-ranked program in the nation, the Boston College Eagles, will take on the Atlantic Hockey champion Air Force Falcons in the first game of the Northeast Regional, to be played at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 24. The game can be seen live on ESPNU.

In the Northeast's other game, the reigning national champion Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs will take on the Maine Black Bears at 7:30 p.m. the same day. The game can be viewed live on ESPN3.com.

The losers will go home, while the winners will play each other the following night at 8 p.m. It seems as though most would expect Boston College to do battle with UMD for the right to go to the Frozen Four, but in a one-game playoff situation, anything can happen.

For more on the road to the Frozen Four in Tampa, stick with our 2012 NCAA hockey tournament StoryStream.

NCAA Hockey Selection Show: Time, TV Schedule And More

The college hockey selection show begins at 12 p.m ET on Sunday. 16 teams will be selected to participate in NCAA's national tournament.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Friday Night Conference Tournament Games, TV Schedule & More

Ten games are on tap Friday across all five college hockey conferences and three -- Hockey East, the WCHA and CCHA -- have their semifinals televised and/or streamed. The Hockey East tournament is on NBC Sports Network Friday and Saturday while WCHA Final Five and CCHA tournament are on Fox Sports North/Root Sports Rocky Mountain and Fox Sports Detroit Plus, respectively.

There are great games across the board featuring last-place Bowling Green making a Cinderella run in the CCHA , Boston College facing an underdog Providence team, four teams battling for one NCAA Tournament bid in Atlantic Hockey and the best rivalry in college hockey - Minnesota-North Dakota - from the WCHA.

Don't know which one to watch? We preview them all.

Hockey East Tournament
Location: Boston, MA

No. 7 Providence vs. No. 1 Boston College -- 5 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network (603 Direct TV; 151 Dish)

No. 4 Maine vs. No. 3 Boston University -- 8 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Network

Top-ranked Boston College looks to win their third consecutive Hockey East title this weekend and are the favorites. The Eagles are led by junior forward Chris Kreider (New York Rangers) and defenseman Brian Durmoulin (Carolina) while Providence upset Massachusetts-Lowell last weekend in coach Nate Leaman's first season.

The other semifinal matches up two teams that survived Game 3s last weekend in Boston University and Maine. The Black Bears feature Spencer Abbott, the leading scorer in the nation and will need him to get past BU goalie Kieran Millan (Colorado Avalanche).

WCHA Final Five
Location: St. Paul MN

No. 3 Denver (24-12-4) vs. No. 2 Minnesota-Duluth (24-8-6) -- 3:07 p.m. ET on Fox Sports North/Root Sports Rocky Mountain

No. 4 North Dakota vs. No. 1 Minnesota -- 8:07 p.m. ET on Fox Sports North (668 Direct TV; 436 Dish)

Denver and North Dakota reached the semifinals by winning games yesterday so it remains to be seen whether or not the extra game is to their advantage. Minnesota-Duluth is the defending national champion but the Pioneers have reached the Final Five title game 3 of the last 4 season. Minnesota and North Dakota have two of the larger fanbases and both will be represented in St. Paul The Gophers have won three of the four games this season but North Dakota is playing their best hockey right now.

A whopping 46 players drafted by NHL teams, including Nick Bjugstad (Florida Panthers), Brock Nelson (New York Islanders), Jason Zucker (Minnesota Wild) and Derek Forbort (Los Angeles Kings), are represented among the four teams along with college free agents Jack Connolly and J.T. Brown.

Both games today are also streamed online at www.foxsportsnorth.com

Atlantic Hockey
Location: Rochester, NY

No. 4 Mercyhurst (18-14-4) vs. No. 1 Air Force (17-9-7) -- 4:05 p.m. ET

No. 3 RIT (17-11-6) vs. No. 2 Niagara (15-10-9) -- 7:05 p.m. ET

The four top teams in Atlantic Hockey battle for a single NCAA Tournament berth this weekend and all have a good chance. While Air Force has represented the conference five of the last six years, it's going up against a team that's beat them twice this year in Mercyhurst. In the other game, Niagara has been hot lately, winning their last 7 games, but is facing a RIT team that will have the benefit of a home crowd.

Whichever team wins twice will almost certainly be the 16^th seed next weekend. That's no new news for Atlantic Hockey, who has made a reputation out of upsetting the #1 or #2 seed in the past.

CCHA Tournament
Location: Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan

No. 3 Western Michigan vs. No. 4 Miami -- 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports Detroit (663/664 Direct TV ; 430 Dish)

No. 11 Bowling Green vs. No. 2 Michigan -- 8:05 p.m. ET on Fox Sports Detroit

The story of the CCHA tournament so far has been the unlikely run of Bowling Green. The 11^th-seeded (of 11 teams) Falcons ended the regular season on a 1-5 skid yet have knocked off sixth-seed Northern Michigan and first-seed Ferris State in three games. The third featured a comeback from being 3-0; if they can continue their run it would be the biggest upset in college hockey history.

However, the other three teams left can hold their own. Bowling Green's opponent, Michigan has been the most dangerous team in the country at times. At the same time, Miami is hot right now and demolished Michigan State last weekend. Western Michigan is a wild card but the fact they need to play themselves into the NCAA Tournament is enough motivation for the Broncos to beat the best teams.

ECAC Tournament
Location: Atlantic City, NJ

No. 4 Colgate vs. No. 1 Union -- 4:30 p.m. ET

No. 3 Harvard vs. No. 2 Cornell -- 7:30 p.m. ET

First-place Union avenged last year's conference tournament upset by beating RPI in the first-round. They face Colgate who took out Quinnipiac in 3 games last weekend. In the other semifinal, Harvard continues their surprising season (in yet another sport...insert your Linsanity joke here) with defenseman Danny Biega (Carolina) against a Cornell team that needs a win to get into the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012: Dissecting Conference Tourney Weekend

There are 20 NCAA hockey teams still playing in the final weekend of the conference season. Eight of them cannot get an at-large bid to the National Tournament, and thus must win their conference tournaments if they want their seasons to continue.

Each of the four remaining Atlantic Hockey schools -- Air Force, Mercyhurst, Niagara and RIT -- are in that boat, as are Bowling Green in the CCHA, Providence in Hockey East, and both Harvard and Colgate in the ECAC. For them, it's literally win or go home.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association

There are nine teams across the nation who have essentially clinched tourney bids, but their final seeding is still to be determined. North Dakota, currently penciled in at No. 9, cannot finish worse than 12th -- the lowest number of at-large bids -- if they lose Friday against Minnesota and everything goes against them throughout the weekend. Conversely, the Fighting Sioux could finish in the top four and be one of the No. 1 seeds if they win the WCHA Final Five.

Regardless of who wins the WCHA Tournament, the winner will most likely be the top seed at one of the four regionals; likely in St. Paul, Minn. The Golden Gophers, as the host of the West Regional, will play there no matter what seed they wind up.

Hockey East

Out in Hockey East, the team with the most to worry about is the loser of Maine vs. Boston University. The Black Bears, who sit in tenth entering the weekend, would drop to No. 12 or No. 13 should they lose that game, and they'd have to wait through the remaning games before learning their NCAA Tournament fate on Sunday. Boston University is in regardless of their Hockey East tournament performance, but the Terriers can finish anywhere from a No. 1 seed if they win to likely being a No. 3 seed if they lose to Maine.

ECAC Hockey

Presently No. 13 in Pairwise, ECAC Hockey contender Cornell still controls their destiny if they defeat Harvard on Friday night in that conference's semifinals. If they lose, the Big Red can still get in if they defeat the loser of Union vs. Colgate in the third-place game, but two losses or a loss and tie will leave them on the outside looking in. Union is in regardless of this weekend and is playing for a No. 1 seed, and should they win the ECAC tournament in Atlantic City, they'll have about a 75-percent chance of picking up that spot.

Central Collegiate Hockey Association

Like the ECAC, all four CCHA teams are guaranteed two games -- all other conferences have eliminated their third-place games. Western Michigan, Michigan State and Northern Michigan are all on the NCAA Tournament bubble, but WMU is the only one who find themselves playing in Detroit during the conference tournament.

Michigan State and NMU fans are pulling for a pair of Broncos losses as a result, and if Bowling Green were to win the tournament and grab an auto-bid, it would be devastating to each. Western Michigan gets closer to a tournament berth if they defeat Miami on Friday afternoon, but sitting at No. 15 in the Pairwise, their only guarantee is to win both games.

Michigan State also comes close to clinching a spot if there are no upsets throughout any of the games Friday night. Despite not playing in Detroit over the weekend (the Spartans were swept by Miami in the CCHA quarterfinals), they hold the tiebreaker over Western Michigan and have a better chance of staying in the at-large mix.

Northern Michigan's hopes, meanwhile, were essentially dashed when they lost to Bowling Green in the CCHA first round. The Wildcats need a number of games to go their way and will be eliminated from postseason contention if either Western Michigan or Cornell wins Friday.

NCAA Hockey Tournament 2012 Bracketology: How Are 16 Teams Selected?

It's conference tournament weekend in NCAA hockey, and on Sunday, college hockey's 2012 tournament bracket will be decided.