Frozen Four predictions: Can BU or Quinnipiac advance to final?

The only New England representation at last year's Frozen Four was the venue —TD Garden. Things are much different this year.

Boston University and Quinnipiac will represent the region in this season's Frozen Four. BU battles Minnesota at 5 p.m. on Thursday, followed by Quinnipiac taking on Michigan at 8:30 p.m.

Neither squad needs the Tampa sun to warm them up. The Terriers enter having won their last nine games, including the Hockey East championship. While Quinnipiac lost in the ECAC Hockey Tournament semifinal, the Bobcats have still won 14 of their last 15 games.

Both Minnesota and Michigan arrive to the Frozen Four with a large dose of history and an even heavier dose of elite talent.

It should make for some great hockey.

It begs a simple question: Who's winning this thing?

Let's make some predictions.

Minnesota vs. Boston University

At the start of the year, I predicted this would actually be the national championship. I was one game off, so I'll take that as a win.

Minnesota enters this game with the top line in the country in Logan Cooley, Jimmy Snuggerud and Matthew Knies. Cooley and Knies are Hobey Baker finalists and Snuggerud posted 50 points this season. The Golden Gophers have stars on defense, too, in Jackson LaCombe and Brock Faber. Justen Close has held it down in net, posting a 1.99 goals-against average and a .928 save percentage. While Minnesota came up just short in the Big Ten Tournament, the Gophers still did enough to have a ton of success against a really tough Big Ten.

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Minnesota was in the Frozen Four last year and may have the more talented roster, but BU has a perfect blend of veteran leadership and talented young guns. It's one game and I think that wins out in this one.

Prediction: BU wins, 4-2.

Michigan vs. Quinnipiac

Like Minnesota, Michigan was in the Frozen Four last year. And also like Minnesota, Michigan failed to advance to the national championship.

Michigan has the best player in the entire tournament in Adam Fantilli, who should win the Hobey Baker Award. While Fantilli is the consensus No. 2 prospect in this June's NHL Draft behind Connor Bedard, his most notable achievement is notching 36 points in 26 games for Kimball Union in 2019-20. Michigan lost a lot of last year's star-studded team but still has a lot left over. Defenseman Luke Hughes, a former fourth overall pick by the New Jersey Devils, grew his game even more in Year No. 2, notching 10 goals and 47 points. Mackie Samoskevich (Newtown, Conn.), a former 24th overall pick by the Florida Panthers, scored 20 goals this season.

Quinnipiac is an older team and only lost four games. The Bobcats have the advantage in net with Yaniv Perets. Still, I don't think two teams (Minnesota and Michigan) can go to back-to-back Frozen Fours and fail to make the championship. One will make it and I think it will be Michigan.

Prediction: Michigan wins, 3-2, in overtime.

National Championship: Boston University vs. Michigan

These two teams met on Oct. 14 and 16 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Wolverines blew the doors off of the Terriers in Game 1, beating them, 9-2. But BU head coach Jay Pandolfo's team rebounded nicely, winning Game 2, 3-2.

So, who takes the rubber match?

Well, it's hard to give an advantage to either head coach. Both Pandolfo and Michigan bench boss Brandon Naurato are in their first seasons. Both teams also boast the two best defensemen in the nation in Lane Hutson and Hughes.

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This would be a battle of offenses, as Michigan is tied for No. 1 in the country with 4.2 goals per game and BU is tied for third with 3.9 goals per game. I think Drew Commesso gives BU the edge over Michigan goalie Erik Portillo, which is why I'm going with BU as the 2023 national champion.

Prediction: BU wins, 5-3.