vs. 
#1 Boston College (25-10-3, 16-8-3 Hockey East) vs. #4 Alaska Nanooks (18-11-9, 11-9-8-4 CCHA)
2010 NCAA Men's Hockey Tournament Northeast Regional Semifinal
Time: 1:30 ET
Date: Saturday, Mar. 27, 2010
Place: DCU Center (capacity 14,800), Worcester, Ma.
Opponent's Blog: Alaska Nanooks Hockey Blog
TV: CSN New England (DirecTV 630), MASN (DirecTV 640)
Last Time Out: Senior forward Matt Lombardi scored just 5:25 into the OT session to lift Boston College past Maine 7-6. With the win, BC captured the program's 9th Hockey East tournament title (and 3rd in the last 4 seasons).
Series: This is the first ever meeting between the Eagles and Nanooks.
Trends: The Eagles own a 6-1 record in NCAA Tournament games played at the DCU Center in the 2000s. BC is 8-0 in first round NCAA Tournament games under Jerry York. Alaska is 4-14-1 all-time vs. Hockey East teams.
Alaska's Leading Scorers: Sr. Dion Knelsen (19-23-42), Fr. Andy Taranto (17-24-41)
Alaska's Leading Goaltender: So. Scott Greenham (18-11-9, 2.20 GAA, .918 SV%)
The road to Detroit begins here. The top-seeded Eagles face the #4 Alaska Nanooks at the DCU Center. It's a game of firsts for both programs. BC has never faced Alaska in hockey (and probably not in any sport, for that matter). Alaska is making its program's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament. BC is undefeated in first round games under Coach York.
I don't think the Nanooks have the firepower to hang with the Eagles (scoring only 2.82 goals per game), but BC will have a tough go of it now that defenseman Patrick Wey has been ruled out for the weekend with mono. Alaska's strength is their defense and the goaltending of Scott Greenham. The Nanooks have allowed a mere 2.37 goals per game, good for the 9th best mark in the country.
Leave your pre-, in- and post-game thoughts below. Also, feel free to discuss the rest of today's college hockey action.
Go Eagles!