Selfishly, I like this Frozen Four...get to watch a few key prospects in a big spot. Never have liked how they make these guys wait an extra week because of the hoops Final Four.
Harvard-Duluth had a thrilling finish. Denver blows out Notre Dame...the Irish were outmatched. Denver-Duluth for the title on Saturday night...arguably the two best teams all season meet one more time. They split a weekend series in Denver back in December.
I'm happy that Michigan is back in the tourney but they played their way into the field with their strong finish to the season. The weekend sweep over Notre Dame a month ago probably put them over the top.
Should be the typical tournament...no clear cut favorite but Denver has a good shot at repeating.
The Air Force upset over St. Cloud St. has been the only eye-opening result so far...it's been a pretty straight forward tournament overall.
Boston U. beating Cornell was notable but the Terriers have a lot of pro talent. Duluth going to the Frozen Four as a #3 wasn't too shocking since they were in the title game last year.
Good stuff today...Michigan-Boston U. and Ohio State-Denver.
Ohio State-Denver should be a fun game. Both teams have some top end offensive talent and have seniors in goal. Jaillet has been the Pioneers goalie all 4 years while Romeo for OSU has only been a full-time starter just this year. He was actually at Maine for first two years.
For those with a high pick this year in the draft...Quinn Hughes on Michigan is a guy to watch. Third on the team in points as a defenseman. He's considered a top 10 player in this draft and had more impressive numbers with USNTDP but I was much more impressed when Werenski was at Michigan. We've all seen how well he's played for the Blue Jackets. Hughes is a smaller guy than Werenski with probably more offensive upside but Werenski has the all-around game.
Even though Notre Dame is only Big Ten for hockey...3 of 4 teams in the Frozen Four are from the same conference. Ohio State put a pretty good beating on Denver. That was probably the most impressive win of the weekend.
Ohio State has yet to play Duluth this season. Michigan and Notre Dame split the season series. Michigan probably had their best weekend of the season about a month ago when they swept then-#1 Notre Dame in a home-and-home series.
Hard to say right now who is the favorite in the Frozen Four...I wouldn't be shocked to see a rematch of the Big Ten tournament final between Notre Dame and Ohio State.
Big day today to determine conference champions and the tournament field will take shape.
There's a couple win-and-you're-in scenarios. American International-Niagara in the Atlantic and Penn State-Notre Dame in the Big Ten. Penn State and Notre Dame are right on the fringe of the PairWise so either team losing would eliminate them. The winner of the Atlantic and potentially Boston College could bump two teams out of the top 16.
Minnesota State-Bowling Green, Clarkson-Cornell and St. Cloud State-Minnesota-Duluth...both teams are getting in. Just playing for seeding at this point.
In Hockey East...Boston University was eliminated last night so the contract watch for the big time prospects on that roster can begin. Massachusetts (lead by Cale Makar) was upset by BC but they're very much in the tournament. Boston College needs to beat Northeastern to get in...Northeastern is in either way.