The NCAA Frozen 4 is about to kick off, and two historic applications will battle for an opportunity to play for the Nationwide Championship. The Michigan Wolverines and the Quinnipiac Bobcats will sq. off at 8 ET on Thursday within the second of a semifinal doubleheader, all with a spot within the Nationwide Championship on the road.
Quinnipiac and Michigan to point out down within the NCAA Frozen 4 Semifinal
Nobody thought Penn State would nonetheless be in it on the Allentown Regional remaining per week in the past, definitely not the Michigan Wolverines. The highest-ranked crew that smashed their earlier opponent struggled to place the puck within the web. A late aim tied it and going into OT, Adam Fantilli assured victory. Simply 52 seconds into the do-or-die body, Mackie Samoskevich despatched the Wolverines into the Frozen 4.
It’s the second yr in a row within the NCAA Frozen 4 for the Michigan Wolverines, who have been eradicated within the semifinals final season by the eventual champion Denver Pioneers. However that was final season, and the Wolverines didn’t have the second greatest participant within the NHL draft then.
Everyone seems to be conscious of the heroics of Adam Fantilli this season. Simply when Michigan wanted a spark towards the Nittany Lions, he was there to ship. Fantilli is trying so as to add a nationwide championship to his already spectacular resume.
The ship hasn’t almost been as easy crusing for the Quinnipiac Bobcats. The final time the Bobcats have been on this place, they have been in the identical constructing. Within the 2016 NCAA Frozen 4 Championship, the Bobcats misplaced in Tampa to the North Dakota Preventing Hawks. For a program that has by no means received a nationwide championship, this yr may be the ultimate straw.
The Bobcats are a defensive crew, led by their sophomore goaltender Yaniv Perets. Perets shone within the Bridgeport NCAA Regional Remaining towards the Ohio State Buckeyes, stopping 34 of 35 photographs to ship the Bobcats again to the NCAA Frozen 4. The goaltender at present has a .932 save proportion and a 1.46 GAA.
The Wolverines are precisely the alternative. Seven gamers on their roster have scored greater than 30 factors this season, with Fantilli main the best way this season with 64. Half of their ahead traces have been drafted into the NHL, together with all however two defensemen.
Prediction: Michigan received’t let what occurred towards Penn State occur once more. The Bobcats have good protection, however the Wolverines are an All-Star crew.
4-1, Michigan
