First Round – Wednesday, March 6 (Campus sites)
Wentworth at Babson
Babson pulled off a stunner by upending top-ranked Norwich in the ECAC East title game. The Beavers’ postseason run will continue, for one more game, anyway. Babson 5-3
Massachusetts-Dartmouth at Bowdoin
Bowdoin is a serious national title contender, and although the Corsairs barreled down the home stretch with a full head of steam, the Polar Bears are simply too strong. Bowdoin 4-2
St. John’s at Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Wis.-Eau Claire stumbled against St. Norbert in last week’s NHCA title game, and will likely not fall prey to an ambush by the Johnnies, who are making their first NCAA appearance in eight seasons. Wis.-Eau Claire 3-0
Quarterfinal Round – Saturday, March 9 (Campus sites)
Oswego at Adrian
This could be a shootout considering that the teams were 1-2 in the Nation in scoring (Adrian 5.00 gpg, Oswego 4.93). The Bulldogs possess the country’s top power play (32 percent), but Oswego gives up just over three power plays per game. This one will likely come down to special teams. Oswego 5-4
Babson at Norwich
The Cadets would love nothing better than to get another crack at Babson, although this time Norwich will have bigger fish to fry. Norwich 5-2
Wis.-Eau Claire at St. Norbert
Another intraconference brawl spilling into the NCAAs. There are no secrets left between the two, who would be meeting for the fifth time this year (Eau Claire leads 2-1-0). This time, Blugolds goalie Brandon Stephenson will flash the form that earned him NHCA Player of the Year honors. Wis.-Eau Claire 2-0
Bowdoin at Utica
Utica, the D-III attendance leader at over 3,000 per game, will have strong crowd support for its first-ever NCAA appearance, but that alone won’t get it done against the Polar Bears. Bowdoin 3-2
