NO. 1 SEED NOTRE DAME FIGHTING IRISH

Location: Boston, Mass.
Record: 25-11-4 overall (18-6-3 Hockey East, second)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Fourth (most recent, 1994)
Head Coach: Greg Cronin
Key Players: Brad Thiessen, G, Sr. (25-11-4, 2.09, .932); Ryan Ginand, F, Sr. (38 GP, 20-12—32); Wade MacLeod, F, So. (40 GP, 14-21—35); Joe Vitale, F, Sr. (39 GP, 7-20—27)
What You Need to Know: Northeastern coach Greg Cronin has transformed the Huskies from Hockey East doormat to contender. They led the league standings from the beginning of the season until BU stole the title in the regular-season finale, and their 25 wins has tied a school record (1981-82).
How They'll Advance: The Huskies have to grind it out and play with more toughness than their opponents, and they have to stay smart in front of junior goalie Brad Thiessen. NU is capable of putting up some crooked numbers when it gets its talented forwards — Ryan Ginand, Wade MacLeod and Steve Quailer — into the open ice with good looks at the net. But more than anything, it’s all about how sound Thiessen can be between the pipes.
What Might Trip Them Up: They looked gassed in the Hockey East playoffs, especially during their semifinal defeat to Lowell, when they lost a 2-0 lead and fell in overtime. The Huskies have been a confident bunch for the majority of the season, but they’ve got to show they believe they’re the better team when they take the ice in the national tournament. And as strong as Hockey East Player of the Year Thiessen has been, he allowed a lot of fat rebounds against Lowell. He’s got to clean that up going forward.

Location: Ithaca, N.Y.
Record: 21-9-4 overall (13-6-3 ECAC Hockey, second)
Qualified: At-large berth
NCAA Championships: Two (1967, 1970)
NCAA Appearance: 16th (most recent, 2006)
Head Coach: Mike Schafer
Key Players: Riley Nash, F, So. (13-21—34); Colin Greening, F, Jr. (14-15—29); Brendon Nash, D, Jr. (32 GP, 2-15—17); Ben Scrivens, G, Jr. (21-9-4, 1.77, .933)
What You Need to Know: After missing the NCAA Tournament in each of the last two years, the Big Red are back behind a familiar formula - excellent overall defense. They rank fourth nationally in team defense, allowing just 2.00 goals per game. Most of their scoring comes from a handful of players.
How They'll Advance: First-round NHL draft pick Riley Nash (2007 Edmonton Oilers, 21st overall) second half of the season started to take over games and was a dominant forward for Cornell in the second half of the season. He has the patience and vision to let plays develop, and the skill to take advantage once openings present themselves. If a big-time player can make two goals happen, it might be enough in what could be a low-scoring regional.
What Might Trip Them Up: If the opposition can limit the production from the top two lines, especially the group with Evan Barlow and Riley Nash, the Big Red will struggle to find the back of the net. Goaltender Ben Scrivens has spectacular numbers, but was far better in the fall than he was in the second half of the season. Even the most faithful Lynah denizens hold their breath at times when Scrivens handles long shots and dump-ins.

Location: Bemidji, Minn.
Record: 18-15-1 overall (12-5-1 CHA, first)
Qualified: CHA tournament champions
NCAA Championships: None
NCAA Appearance: Third (most recent, 2006)
Head Coach: Tom Serratore
Key Players: Matt Read, F, So. (34 GP, 13-22—35); Tyler Scofield, F, Sr. (32 GP, 18-14—32); Brad Hunt, D, Fr. (9-22—31); Matt Dalton, G, So. (17-10-0, 2.25, .918)
What You Need to Know: Bemidji State won the CHA regular season title and captured the automatic qualifier with an overtime victory over Robert Morris on home ice. They lost a pair of one-goal games at North Dakota and also played tough in non-league games against Minnesota Duluth. The Beavers were 10-2-1 in their last 13 regular season games after suffering a five-game losing streak in January. Additionally, they earned two wins against the US NTDP Under-18s in late February.
How They'll Advance: The Beavers best shot is to keep the score down, and sophomore goalie Matt Dalton will be in charge of keeping his team in the game. If they can stay in it through two periods, confidence will build and they'll be able to call on some positive thinking, as Bemidji State is a perfect 14-0-0 on the season when leading after two periods.
What Might Trip Them Up: When they take the ice on Saturday evening, it will be Bemidji State's first game in two weeks. They are considered by most to be the biggest underdog in any of the first round matchups.