When the NCAA men's hockey regional finals were about to get underway, there was a chance at an all-New England Frozen Four.
Unfortunately, that won't be the case.
Instead, Penn State took down UConn, Denver beat Boston College again and Western Michigan edged out Massachusetts. The lone New England school gunning for a national title will be Boston University after taking down Cornell in overtime.
Western Michigan will take on reigning national champion Denver in the first Frozen Four semifinal game on Thursday. Following that will be Boston University and Penn State.
Before we make our Frozen Four picks, how did we do in regionals?
Patrick Donnelly did the best in picking the Frozen Four, nailing Denver and Western Michigan. Evan Marinofsky, however, went 0-for-4, which is actually more impressive if you think about it (don't).
Let's dive into who will win the national championship.
Semifinal: Western Michigan vs. Denver
Marinofsky:Â These are the two best offenses in the country. Denver's road through regionals was a bit easier, outscoring Providence and Boston College, 8-2, to arrive in St. Louis for the Frozen Four. Western Michigan needed overtime to beat Minnesota State, 2-1, before sneaking past Massachusetts, 2-1, in the regional final. Broncos netminder Hampton Slukynsky was strong in both games, making 28 saves in each win. Denver goalie Matt Davis has also been outstanding, making 30 saves against the Mavericks and 35 to beat the Eagles. Where the teams differ is that while Denver has become a regular in the Frozen Four, this is Western Michigan's first trip.
These are NCHC rivals and have met three times this season. They split a series in early December (both one-score games) and then faced off in the NCHC championship game on March 22. Western Michigan won, 4-3, in 2OT.
This game will be just as close. But the Pioneers get revenge.
Denver wins, 3-2, in overtime.Â
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Donnelly: Everything in my brain is telling me to go with Denver. They've obviously got experience on their side. They've got one of the best coaches in the world. Davis is a maniac in the NCAA tournament. And how could I forget about Zeev Buium? Or Jack Devine? Or Aidan Thompson? But I've got this gut feeling, for better or worse, that Western Michigan will break through in the semifinals in their first-ever trip to the Frozen Four. They can roll four lines, they're balanced and Slukynsky has been fantastic in net of late. They'll need Liam Valente to make an impact on the scoresheet.
Western Michigan wins, 4-3.
Semifinal: Boston University vs. Penn State
Marinofsky:Â Both of these teams won their first-round matchups handily, as BU took down Ohio State, 8-3, and Penn State upset Maine, 5-1. Both also needed overtime to beat their regional final opponent. Both carry high-octane offenses, as BU ranks fourth in the nation in scoring, while Penn State ranks fifth. The Terriers can be a frustrating team, flipping the on-and-off switch quite a bit. I think the X-factors in this game are the Hutson brothers and freshman goalie Mikhail Yegorov.
BU wins, 4-2.Â
Donnelly: Penn State is flat-out the hottest team of the four left standing. They've lost just three times since Jan. 11. The Nittany Lions wreaked havoc with their speed in the regionals, and Charlie Cerrato was a key X-factor on their second line. It's vital that he continues his run. But BU is just as adept at creating offense in transition with its speed. The Terriers might not be the best defensive team in the field, but they did prove they could play a disciplined game against Cornell in the regional final. Whether it's a similar game plan or matching PSU in transition, Jay Pandolfo's group should keep pace. Experience will pay off here.
BU wins, 5-3.
National championship
Marinofsky: I have Denver vs. Boston University in my final, which would be quite the opportunity for Denver — a chance to knock off BC in the national championship last season, beat the Eagles again in this tournament and then take down BC's rival in BU in this season's national championship? Oh boy. At that point, I think Denver boss David Carle should take George Costanza's advice and leave on a high note. But it won't be that easy. This BU team has depth up front and on defense, and a youngster who is red-hot in Yegorov. BU has also been to the last two Frozen Fours and lost in the semifinals both times.
Third time's the charm.
BU wins, 4-3, in double overtime.Â
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Donnelly:Â I have Western Michigan versus Boston University. In one corner, you'd have WMU, looking to complete a historic run for its program and land that elusive national title. In the other corner, you'd have BU, one of the blue bloods, looking to get over the hump in its third straight Frozen Four and deliver its sixth title and first in 16 years. Both teams can score with the best of them, but who will get the extra save? Cole Hutson has proven this season that he is a big-game player, whether it was the Beanpot, the regionals or the World Juniors. If BU wins, he will be leading the charge with Yegorov, who will make that one extra save.
BU wins, 5-4.
