Predictions: Who will make the Frozen Four in NCAA hockey tournament?

When the NCAA men's hockey tournament begins on Thursday, six teams will battle to make the Frozen Four, which will be held in Las Vegas.

If they get there, it's all about a national championship.

Can any of them win the whole thing? The last New England team to win a national championship was Quinnipiac in 2023.

We're hot off our New England prep and MIAA predictions. So why not keep the good times rolling with some college picks?

Let's dive in.

Albany Regional

Evan Marinofsky's picks: 

• Michigan 4, Bentley 1
• Minnesota-Duluth 5, Penn State 3
• Michigan 3, Minnesota-Duluth 2 (OT)

Rationale: I looked back at my picks from last year, and I liked Bentley's chances against then-No. 1 Boston College (although I didn't pick them). Bentley played BC tough, but lost, 3-1. Bentley shouldn't be slept on, but I just don't see the Falcons taking down the powerhouse Wolverines. The other game is the most interesting. Can Minnesota-Duluth take down the Gavin McKenna show in Penn State? I say yes. UMD has historically been built for this time of year, and I think its heavy style wins out. As for the team to move on, I don't see Michigan losing before the Frozen Four.

Patrick Donnelly's picks: 

• Michigan 5, Bentley 2
• Minnesota-Duluth 4, Penn State 3
• Michigan 4, Minnesota-Duluth 3

Rationale: This regional is a gauntlet. Bentley has proven to be a tough out in the past, but Michigan is just too good. The Wolverines have the nation's top offense, led by TJ Hughes and Michael Hage. They should overpower Bentley. I flip-flopped on Minnesota-Duluth and Penn State. Duluth plays structured and has the talent to keep up with McKenna. PSU is the most penalized team in the nation, and Duluth has the second-best power play behind Michigan. If the Nittany Lions can't stay out of the box, good luck. You could make the same argument for a matchup between Michigan and UMD. The Wolverines are right behind PSU in penalty minutes. Still, Michigan can outscore any problems, and goalie Jack Ivankovich will make the extra save.

Sioux Falls Regional

Evan Marinofsky's picks: 

• Merrimack 3, North Dakota 2 (3OT)
• Providence College 2, Quinnipiac 1
• Providence College 4, Merrimack 2

Rationale: Yep, maybe I'm crazy. But Merrimack sure has that team-of-destiny feel after its crazy run to a Hockey East championship win. North Dakota is a wagon and will basically have a home crowd in Sioux Falls. But I think Merrimack pulls off the crazy upset in a triple-overtime thriller. As for the New England team vs. New England team game, the Friars will be motivated to avenge losing in the Hockey East tournament quarterfinals. Merrimack, however, meets its match in the game to go to the Frozen Four. Providence will once again be hungry to avenge that defeat to Merrimack in the Hockey East quarters, punching its ticket to Vegas.

Patrick Donnelly's picks: 

• North Dakota 2, Merrimack 1 (OT)
• Quinnipiac 3, Providence College 2
• North Dakota 4, Quinnipiac 3

Rationale: I would love nothing more than to pick Merrimack in an upset. That run in Hockey East was a blast to watch, especially goalie Max Lundgren's play in net. They'll play North Dakota tight, but the Fighting Hawks will get it done. As Evan wrote, Providence will be motivated, but so will Quinnipiac after the Bobcats lost in the ECAC quarters. They've also got the nation's top scorer in Ethan Wyttenbach. QU gets the edge for me there. In the regional final, I don't expect North Dakota to dominate, but I do expect UND to win. They're battle-tested, coming out of the NCHC, and the clear favorites in this regional in front of basically a home crowd.

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Worcester Regional

Evan Marinofsky's picks: 

• Michigan State 4, UConn 2
• Dartmouth 3, Wisconsin 1
• Michigan State 5, Dartmouth 2

Rationale: I liked UConn's run in the Hockey East playoffs, and I love their make-up. They're young, but they have so many returners from last year's team that went to the NCAA tournament and came oh-so-close to the Frozen Four. The problem: I don't see Michigan State bowing out in the first round of regionals like it did last season. The Dartmouth-Wisconsin game is one I'm guessing most are taking the Badgers in, even though they're the lower seed. The Big Green are fresh off a big win over Princeton in the ECAC Hockey tournament championship, while Wisconsin's last game was a 7-1 loss to Ohio State in the Big Ten tournament quarterfinals. I'll take Dartmouth there. In the final, however, Michigan State's firepower wins out.

Patrick Donnelly's picks: 

• Michigan State 5, UConn 2
• Dartmouth 4, Wisconsin 2
• Dartmouth 3, Michigan State 2 (OT)

Rationale: UConn gets a tough draw with Michigan State. The Spartans haven't been world-beaters of late, but neither have the Huskies, going 5-5-2 since Feb. 1. After going against a hot goalie in Merrimack's Lundgren in the Hockey East championship, UConn will have its hands full again with MSU's Trey Augustine. Couple that with an offensive edge for the Spartans, and they'll be moving on. Like Evan, I'm going with Dartmouth over Wisconsin. The Big Green play teams tight. They're allowing a full goal less per game than Wisconsin, too, and they have the best penalty kill in the field. I'll take Dartmouth in the regional semis, and while I'm here, I'll have them keep it up against MSU. Save for special teams, the two sides match up well. Dartmouth's Emmett Croteau is a strong answer in net. Although Michigan State is more battle-tested, I think Dartmouth captures some magic in its first tournament appearance since 1980.

Loveland Regional

Evan Marinofsky's picks: 

• Western Michigan 4, Minnesota State 1
• Denver 4, Cornell 3
• Denver 4, Western Michigan 3

Rationale: No New England teams are in this regional, so it's less fun. I'll keep my reasoning short: Western Michigan has the clear advantage over Minnesota State, but Denver is Denver, and picking against the Pioneers this time of year is consistently a bad idea. It's also an even year, and the Pioneers won national titles in 2022 and 2024. I'm not definitively saying head coach David Carle's team will win another natty, but I'm counting on them going to another Frozen Four.

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Patrick Donnelly's picks: 

• Western Michigan 3, Minnesota State 1
• Denver 2, Cornell 1
• Denver 4, Western Michigan 3 (OT)

Rationale: What Evan said. I have a hard time seeing a path for Minnesota State over Western Michigan. Both have strong goalies, but Western's got the better offensive upside. As for Denver and Cornell, I do think the Big Red can play the Pioneers tight. But picking against Denver in the tournament and with essentially a home crowd is a fool's errand. The Pios and Broncos split their season series (2-2), and WMU will be motivated after Denver knocked them out in overtime in the NCHC semis. Still, Denver gets it done again. Goalie Johnny Hicks has been on an insane run.