Predictions II : Northeast and Midwest Regionals

Northeast Regional-Worcester, MA
Saturday-2PM Air Force vs Miami
Miami has been rolling through their season with the #1 offense in the country beating on Cup Cake Hockey Association opponents and they will get a rude awakening against the Falcons. AFA has been up to WCHA standards this season, stomping DU and playing toe-to-toe with the Tigers. Eric Ehn may be back to give the Falcons a spark. I'm going with the North-side team here.
Prediction: AFA 4, Miami 3

Sunday-5:30PM Minnesota vs Boston College
This game should be a battle. BC is the Hockey East Champion, a league that most view as second behind the WCHA. BC has tournament experience and will be looking to prove their league is better. Minnesota is riding their late season and tournament momentum, despite losing to DU in a game that could have gone both ways. Minnesota is also experienced and physical. If their goaltending is on (like it was against the Tigers), they will defeat the evil east coast Eagles.
Prediction: Minnesota 4, BC 2

Regional Final-Saturday 2:30PM
In a rematch of last year's regional in Denver, the Falcons and Gophers will battle it out again, this time for a spot in Denver. Close, physical game that will go down to the final 5 minutes, or even OT. I think Minnesota's momentum and experience will carry them in this one.
Prediction: Minnesota 3, AFA 2

Bottom line: The Gophers will grind out the win but the stretch run and battle with AFA will catch up with them next weekend and their season will in Denver against...

Midwest Regional-Madison, WI
Saturday-4:30PM Wisconsin vs Denver
After winning the Broadmoor Trophy, DU is rewarded by being placed in the Badgers home building for the opening round-the only all WCHA game tomorrow night. The Pios lost 7-2 the last time they played up in Madison and that has to play a little bit into their heads this weekend. UW will be pumped up at getting another chance and being the only sub-500 team in the tourney (thank you WCHA schedule). This is a toss up but I'm going to give the edge to DU and their tourney experience. It won't be pretty and I wouldn't be surprise to see it go into an extra period or two, and the referees will make all the correct calls this time ;)
Prediction: DU 3, UW 2

Sunday-1:00PM North Dakota vs Princeton
I don't care what anyone says, this is not going to be close. I don't care if Princeton won their tournament, NoDak is too good and will be salivating at the chance to get revenge against DU. WCHA speed and strength will end this quickly as UND eases up in the third period and begins preparation for DU.
Prediction: UND 5, Princeton 0

Regional Final-Saturday 5:00PM
North Dakota can't be happy with what happened at the Ex last weekend and will relish the chance to knock DU out of the tournament and send them home with the Pepsi Center in view from their campus. NoDak will be physical and will score early and put DU in a 3 goal deficit which they have struggled with all season. DU will lose their cool near the end of the game and big, border line illegal hits will dominate the 3rd period.
Prediction: UND 4, DU 1

Bottom line: North Dakota heads to Denver to round out the WCHA crew in Denver.

Final Words:
You heard it here, the WCHA will again ruffle the feathers of the NCAA and dominate the Frozen Four, just as they did in 2005. What, you expected me to say something different?! ;). I'm going to go with my gut and put CC winning 3-2 over North Dakota for their first national title in 50 years. These two are, in my mind, the best teams in the country and it would be a shame for them not to meet again, with CC defending their state and knocking off the mighty Sioux.
Of course there is the distinct possibility that every one of my Friday night picks could lose, in which case I hope you enjoyed the writing!
~PCO

*The bracket I used for the times and dates was incorrect, these two regionals take place Saturday and Sunday