2015 NCAA Hockey Tournament: Northeast Region Preview & Predictions

Here's the region that matters. Boston University is going to be a tough out. They're a hot team coming into the tournament and they've been good all year. Well deserving of a #1 seed in their backyard. Minnesota Duluth hasn't finished the year as well as they've started it, something that has to be pleasing to Gophers fans. Minnesota...the enigma wrapped in a riddle wrapped in tons of talent wrapped in inconsistency. If the confident talented Gophers show up then anyone besides a team led by a hot goalie will fall to them. If they play soft, then anyone in this field can beat them. And Yale? Well, the parallels to 2013 for how this team got into the tourney are unpleasant. So let's not talk about them.

Team Previews

#1 Boston University

Where from: Boston, Massachusetts

Record: 25-7-5 overall (14-5-3 Hockey East)

How they got into the tournament: Hockey East Automatic Bid

Head Coach: David Quinn

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Eichel, Jack Eichel.  One of the best players to come out of college hockey in a long time and he has a great set of teammates behind him to get BU back to the Frozen Four.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: BU shows up cocky and overconfident? That wouldn't be a good idea.

#2 Minnesota Duluth

Where from: Duluth, Minnesota

Record: 20-15-3 (12-9-3 NCHC)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Scott Sandelin

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: They know how to play as a team and East coast refs will turn a blind eye to the flopping tenancies of Farley and Johnson

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: The Gophers are on a role and are out for revenge.

#3 Minnesota

Where from: Minneapolis, MN

Record: 23-12-3 (12-5-3 Big Ten)

How they got into the tournament: Big Ten Autobid

Head Coach: Don Lucia

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Adam Wilcox is back to Wallcox form and Minnesota's senior leadership doesn't want this run to end,

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: UMD knows how to beat Minnesota and Wilcox is due for a stinker one of these games.

#4 Yale

Where from: New Haven, Connecticut

Record: 18-9-5 (12-6-4 ECAC)

How they got into the tournament: At Large Bid

Head Coach: Keith Allain

Why they'll advance to the Frozen Four: Senior leadership that knows how to shock the hockey world.

Why they'll be knocked out in the first round: They aren't that good and Jack Eichel is.

Predictions

First Round

Boston University vs. Yale (Friday 2 pm ET, ESPNU): BU is too good. They roll 4-0.

Minnesota Duluth vs. Minnesota (Friday 5:30 pm ET, ESPNU): Minnesota exorcises their UMD demons with a 3-1 win.

Quarterfinals

Boston University vs. Minnesota: HOMER PICK COMING.

Who Heads To Boston?

Minnesota scores 22 goals, allows -13. GOPHERS WIN.