NCAA Hockey: Tournament Update and Frozen Four Preview
The first two rounds of the men’s NCAA Hockey tournament are in the books. Here is everything you need to know before this week’s Frozen Four.
The Stanley Cup playoffs may be receiving a lot of the press, but it is not the only best-on-best hockey tournament taking place this week. Fresh off of last week’s regionals, the Frozen Four of the men’s NCAA Hockey tournament is back this week.
If you have not been able to keep up-to-date on the tournament, you have missed some pretty great storylines. From heart-stopping overtime to classic goaltending performances, to some insane upsets – this tournament has already had it all.
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There are only two days left in the tournament: the semifinals, which happen on Thursday, and the finals, on Saturday. All games will be played in Buffalo’s KeyBank Center.
Here is a quick rundown of who won each regional, followed by a preview of the final two rounds of the NCAA Hockey tournament.
West Regionals
My Prediction: St. Cloud State Huskies
March 29:
(4) American International over (1) St. Cloud State, 2-1
(2) Denver over (3) Ohio State, 2-0
March 30:
(2) Denver over (4) American International, 3-0
Winner: Denver University Pioneers
Wow. For the second year in a row, the number one overall seed St. Cloud State was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Hockey tournament by the Atlantic Hockey conference champions. This year, it was the Yellow Jackets of American International College.
Going in, I thought the Huskies (like Virginia in men’s basketball) would redeem themselves after last year’s embarrassment. Watching the game, it was painfully obvious that this team was in its own head. If they come in next year with fewer expectations, it may just be the cure they need.
The Huskies being eliminated open the door for the next-best team in the quadrant, Denver, to waltz into the Frozen Four. Their defense and goaltending has been very good, as predicted, as they have yet to allow a goal in this tournament.
Northeast Regionals
My Prediction: University of Massachusetts Minutemen
March 29:
(1) Massachusetts over (4) Harvard, 4-0
(2) Notre Dame over (3) Clarkson, 3-2 (OT)
March 30:
(1) Massachusetts over (2) Notre Dame, 4-0
Winner: University of Massachusetts Minutemen
This region went exactly according to plan. Massachusetts was far-and-away the best team in this quadrant, and they dominated, outscoring their opposition 8-0 over the first two rounds. Led by Cale Makar, they continue to prove their mettle in the NCAA Hockey tournament.
As for the other teams, I had said that Notre Dame-Clarkson was a toss-up, and it was. Harvard may have been the second-best team in the quadrant, but they were up against a buzzsaw early on. This was a one-team region all the way through.
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East Regionals
My Prediction: Minnesota State University Mavericks
March 30:
(4) Providence over (1) Minnesota State, 6-3
(3) Cornell over (2) Northeastern, 5-1
March 31:
(4) Providence over (3) Cornell, 4-0
Winner: Providence University Friars
Technically, I got this prediction wrong, but realistically, I do not think I did. Let me direct you to a little tidbit from my tournament preview:
If I were to choose potential upsets, at the top of my list would be Providence from the East…
This team was always going to be one that caught fans by surprise. Statistically, they are massively underrated, and they also had a hometown advantage with the regionals being held in Providence. Add five straight periods of shutout goaltending, and they are hot at the right time.
That being said, Minnesota State should hold their heads high. They were up 3-0 over Providence at one point, and were far-and-away the second-best team in the quadrant. Cornell was ravaged by injuries, and Northeastern had far too many flaws that were exposed here.
Midwest Regionals
My Prediction: University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
March 30:
(1) Minnesota-Duluth over (4) Bowling Green, 2-1 (OT)
(2) Quinnipiac over (3) Arizona State, 2-1
March 31:
(1) Minnesota-Duluth over (2) Quinnipiac, 3-1
Winner: University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
Another predictable outcome, but the road to this result was not as smooth as Massachusetts’s. As I had predicted, Bowling Green gave a real fight in their return to the NCAA Hockey tournament, but in the end it was not enough.
This was a really tough quadrant, which explains these low-scoring games. In the end, all of these teams played very impressive hockey, and Minnesota-Duluth should feel great at how they were able to power through the regionals.
Frozen Four Predictions
Semifinals (4/11):
(1) Massachusetts over (2) Denver
(1) Minnesota-Duluth over (4) Providence
There may have been some upsets, but the two teams that I have seen as the best in the NCAA Hockey tournament from day one are still in. Just like I did two weeks ago, I predict that Massachusetts and Minnesota-Duluth will meet in the finals.
For the Minutemen, after a very easy regional, the semifinal looks to be very winnable as well. This is not the same Denver team that won two years ago, and the defense and goaltending of Massachusetts is better than anything they have faced yet.
On the other side, Providence has been on fire right now, getting great goaltending and solid offense. But the Bulldogs just got through the most brutal regional by far, and their defense looks absolutely stout right now. Not to mention the potential this team has offensively.
I am way more confident of my first prediction than my second, but I foresee a (1) vs. (1) finals this Saturday.
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Finals (4/13):
(1) Minnesota-Duluth over (1) Massachusetts
I have been saying all year, even as far back as mid-February, that Minnesota-Duluth is my pick to win it all. This is one of the best squads NCAA Hockey has seen in recent memory, and the players have experience when it comes to winning the Frozen Four.
Because of that, I have to stay with them as my pick, but goodness gracious is it close. Massachusetts looks even more impressive than they did two weeks ago, and Cale Makar looks absolutely unstoppable.
At the end of the day, however, Massachusetts will have had to go through three much easier games than the Bulldogs; Harvard, Notre Dame and Denver are nowhere near as difficult as Bowling Green, Quinnipiac and Providence.
That could have two outcomes: Minnesota-Duluth is exhausted after such a grueling stretch, or they are up for the challenge that the Minutemen provide. Given their championship pedigree, I am comfortable banking on the latter.
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What are your thoughts on the tournament so far? Who do you have winning the Frozen Four and the 2019 men’s NCAA Hockey tournament? Chime in below, and get ready for two major hockey tournaments happening this week!