2015 NCAA Hockey Tournament: East Region Preview & Predictions

Miami certainly had a great bounceback season. It wasn't quite worst to first, but they are definitely coming into the NCAA's on a hot streak having won the NCHC Tournament in Minneapolis. The Redhawks are joined by the Denver Pioneers. Denver always seemed to be a late season thorn in Minnesota's side in the final years of the old WCHA. I do not miss them. We'll see if they can be a thorn in the side of Boston College this weekend. BC didn't end the year looking as dominant as they have before, but they're still coached by Jerry York and he's still a NCAA Tourney wizard. Rounding out the East Region is Providence. Insert your complaints about them getting to participate in a Regional held in their hometown that they aren't even hosting.

Team Previews

#1 Miami

Where from: Oxford, Ohio

Record: 25-13-1 overall (14-9-1 NCHC)

How they got into the tournament: NCHC Automatic Bid

Head Coach: Rico Blasi

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: They're on a roll and have a great scoring punch.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: They get to play an unofficial road game, because forcing a #1 seed to play a non-host school in an arena that's 5 minutes from campus the team's comfortable surroundings makes sense.

#2 Denver

Where from: Denver, Colorado

Record: 23-13-2 overall (13-10-1 NCHC)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Jim Montgomery

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Dangerous pair of scoring defensemen. I also just learned this week that they platoon their goalies across a weekend, even in the playoffs. That's just odd, so I'm going to count it as a point in their favor.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: Traveling FTW (well...for the loss in this case). Denver is flying across the country to play a lower seed who comes only an hour away. The NCAA really didn't want to make it easy on the high seeds out in the East did they?

#3 Boston College

Where from: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Record: 21-13-3 overall (12-7-3 Hockey East)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Jerry York

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Because everyone in the count....everyone in New Eng...Everyone in Bos...a few people want to see a BU/BC title game in Boston. Also, as previously mentioned, Jerry York is a wizard.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: They aren't playing North Dakota.

#4 Providence

Where from: Providence, Rhode Islan

Record: 22-13-2 (13-8-1 Hockey East)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Nate Leaman

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Clearly the Providence administration has dirt on the Hockey selection committee in order to get this draw. Or someone bought the promises that Providence fans would sell this out.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: Miami is much better than the Friars and a "home ice" advantage won't change that.

Predictions

First Round

Miami vs. Providence (Saturday, 6:30 pm ET, ESPNU): Miami is better, Miami will win 3-1.

Denver vs. Boston College (Saturday, 3:00 pm ET, ESPN2): Never bet against BC in the tourney, especially not when the travel curse is on their side.

Quarterfinals

Miami vs. Boston College: I'm going to beat the phrase "Jerry York is a wizard" into the ground.

Who Heads To Boston?

Boston College wins, 2-1.