Friday, March 25, 3:30 p.m. (CT), DCU Center, Worcester, Mass.

The Bulldogs downed North Dakota, the top seed in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff, before losing to St. Cloud State in the conference playoff finals. Against Providence, the Bulldogs will look to Plymouth, Minn., native Tony Cameranesi (10-26-36) to help them snatch that momentum back. A fast start and a strong finish are the keys to UMD’s game, outscoring opponents 32-19 in the first period and 37-21 in the third.

To supplement the scoring, the Bulldogs have, in addition to Cameranesi, Austin Farley (14-15-29) and Alex Iafallo (8-14-22). Minnesota Duluth's leading goal scorer is Duluth native Dom Toninato (15-6-21).

Bulldogs head coach Scott Sandelin said that playing the defending national champion Providence Friars is no surprise to his team.

“Anybody you play at this time of the year is good,” Sandelin recently told umdbulldogs.com. “We’ll get back to work, study some film, and see what we need to do to beat them.”

The Friars are the No. 4 seed in the tournament, despite losing to Mass-Lowell in the Hockey East semifinals, ending a 10-game winning streak. The Friars are 1-2 at neutral sites this season. Mark Jankowski (15-25-40) and Trevor Mingola (14-23-37) lead Providence in scoring. 

Saturday, March 26, 2 p.m., Xcel Energy Center, St. Paul, Minn.

St. Cloud State, the Tournament’s second overall seed, may be the hottest team in the field, having won its last six games by a combined score of 32-15. The key for the Huskies is balance. Goaltender Charlie Lindgren has won 30 games this season, including four shutouts. The Huskies’ offense runs through puck distribution master Kalle Kossilla (14-38-52), and potent scorers Joey Benik (22-24-46) and Patrick Russell (20-21-41).

The Huskies won the NCHC Frozen Faceoff this past weekend, downing NCAA tourney participants Denver (4-2) and Minnesota Duluth (3-1). Prior to the aforementioned six-game win streak, the last team the Huskies lost to was Minnesota Duluth, which swept the Huskies in a series during the last week of February.

Huskies head coach Bob Motzko said (in an interview posted to scsuhuskies.com) that the West Region location in St. Paul could be an added bonus for his team, which won the North Star College Cup at the Xcel Energy Center in late January. 

“We’ve had good success in the Twin Cities this year,” Motzko said. “I hope that there’s some magic left there for us.”

Winners of four straight entering the tournament, Ferris St. may have the momentum to match its first round opponent. Freshman goaltender Darren Smith has been a mainstay in the nets, winning 16 games and posting a save percentage of .923. 

EAST

No. 1 seed: Quinnipiac (29-3-7) vs. No. 4 seed: Rochester Institute of Technology (18-14-6)

Quinnipiac, the tournament’s top overall seed, is led by Sam Anas (23 goals, 25 assists, 48 points) and Travis St. Dennis (20-24-44), who pace an offense that has 15 players with 11 or more points. Goaltender Michael Gartieg has been a rock between the pipes for the Bobcats, winning all 29 games while posting a goals-against-average of 1.90 and a save percentage of .924.

RIT may be relieved to be playing away from its home arena, where they won just five of 15 games this season. The Tigers have won four straight games heading into the tournament, thanks in large part to the play of Josh Mitchell (6-30-36) and Myles Powell (15-17-32).

No. 3 seed: Yale (19-8-4) vs. No. 2 seed: Mass-Lowell (24-9-5)

Yale has lost its last three games, a trend that may not bode well facing Mass-Lowell in the first round. Junior goaltender and Baudette, Minn., native Alex Lyon is a Hobey Baker Award top 10 finalist and Richter Award finalist. Defenseman Rob O’Gara was named First Team All-ECAC.

Three players with 30-plus points pace the Riverhawks on offense in C.J. Smith (15-21-36), Adam Chapie (16-17-33) and Joe Gambardella (7-26-33). The Riverhawks fell to Northeastern in the Hockey East championship game 3-2.

NORTHEAST

No. 1 seed: Providence (27-6-4) vs. No. 4 seed: Minnesota-Duluth (18-15-5)

*Preview above

No. 3 seed: Harvard (19-10-4) vs. No. 2 seed: Boston College (26-7-5)

The Crimson had a four-game winning streak snapped when it lost to Quinnipiac 4-1 in the ECAC championship game. Senior forward Jimmy Vesey is a pest for opposing defenses, racking up 24 goals and 46 points thus far.

Despite bowing out in the Hockey East semifinals, the Eagles boast a powerful lineup, led by Ryan Fitzgerald (22-22-44) and Colin White (19-22-41). Boston College has a total of six players that have scored 31 or more points this season. 

WEST

No. 1 seed: St. Cloud State (31-8-1) vs. No. 4 seed: Ferris State (19-14-6)

*Preview above

No. 3 seed: Boston University (21-12-5) vs. No. 2 seed: Denver (23-9-6)

If the Terriers want to make a deep postseason run, they’ll need to play better than their 6-9-2 road record. BU is coming off back-to-back losses to Mass-Lowell heading into the tournament. Danny O’Regan leads the Terriers in scoring with 16 goals and 43 points.

Denver has won 11 of its last 13 games, allowing just one goal in six of those contests. In addition to a stout defense, the Pioneers also have three players with over 40 points this season in Dylan Gambrell (15-28-43), Trevor Moore (9-33-42) and Danton Heinen (19-23-42).

MIDWEST

No. 1 seed: North Dakota (30-6-4) vs. No. 4 seed: Northeastern (22-13-5)

North Dakota is the No. 3 overall seed in the tournament, thanks to a defense that has allowed opponents an average of less than two goals per game. Burnsville native Brock Boeser (25-26-51) leads North Dakota in scoring. North Dakota has outscored its opponents in every period this season.

Making its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009, Northeastern is led by the duo of Zach Aston-Reese (14-29-43) and Nolan Stevens (19-22-41). Goaltender Ryan Ruck has won 20 games this year, and has stopped 91 percent of the shots he’s faced.

No. 3 seed: Notre Dame (19-10-7) vs. No. 2 seed: Michigan (24-7-5)

On the heels of the announcement that Notre Dame will be joining the Big Ten in hockey, the Fighting Irish go up against Big Ten champion Michigan. The Fighting Irish have four players that have 31 points or more thus far, led by Anders Bjork (11-22-33) and Jake Evans (8-25-33), as well as eight Minnesotans (including five from Edina).

Big Ten champ Michigan has a near-perfect 5-1-0 mark in games played at neutral sites this season, which may be a factor in the postseason. Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player Kyle Connor (35-34-69) and J.T. Compher (14-46-60) lead a Wolverine offense that features three 30-point players and a 50-point player behind Connor and Compher.

For NCAA Tournament times and TV schedule, check uscho.com.